April 27, 2007: The legislature can prevent 33,000 injuries by passing Bill 30 say health-care unions

OPSEU/SEIU/ONA: The legislature can prevent 33,000 injuries by passing Bill 30 say health-care unions

Three of Ontario’s largest health care unions are calling upon the provincial government to show they really care about worker safety by passing Bill 30, the Safer Needles Save Lives Act.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA), Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) are challenging the government to show action, not just words on April 28th, the National Day of Mourning for workers injured or killed on the job.

Bill 30, a private member’s bill, would make mandatory the use of safety engineered sharps and safe needles in Ontario’s health care system, preventing 33,000 needlestick injuries a year.

The Act is presently stalled in legislative committee after passing second reading with all-party support.

“Given all-party agreement, it would only take 10 minutes of the legislature’s time to prevent 33,000 injuries per year,” says OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “If the government truly cares about worker safety, they must do the right thing and bring this bill back for third reading.”

“Despite the government’s assurances that it would act on Justice Archie Campbell’s SARS report, the government is still dragging its feet on implementing the mandatory use of Safety Engineered Medical Devices in our health care centres” says Sharleen Stewart, International Canadian Vice President, SEIU Canada. “That one act can begin saving lives immediately.”

ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, says “ONA’s 53,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals are asking the government to treat Bill 30 as a priority. This legislation is urgently required to protect the lives and well-being of front-line health care workers across Ontario. Requiring the use of safety-engineered sharps devices is the right thing to do, as other Canadian provinces and much of the U.S. have already realized.”

Every April 28 for over twenty years, workers, unions and other organizations stop to remember and honour those who have died, suffered injury or experienced illness due to work-related causes.

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For more information, contact: David Cox, OPSEU: 416-443-8888; John Van Beek, SEIU, 905-660-1800, ext. 319; Sheree Bond, ONA: 416-964-8833, ext. 2430

Ontario Public Service Employees Union, 100 Lesmill Rd. Toronto, ON M3B 3P8 (416) 443-8888 www.opseu.org
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		FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 27, 2007 OPSEU/SEIU/ONA: The legislature can prevent 33,000 injuries by passing Bill 30 say health-care unions Three of Ontario’s largest health care unions are calling upon the provincial government to show they really care about worker safety by passing Bill 30, the Safer Needles Save Lives Act. The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA), Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) are challenging the government to show action, not just words on April 28th, the National Day of Mourning for workers injured or killed on the job. Bill 30, a private member’s bill, would make mandatory the use of safety engineered sharps and safe needles in Ontario’s health care system, preventing 33,000 needlestick injuries a year. The Act is presently stalled in legislative committee after passing second reading with all-party support. “Given all-party agreement, it would only take 10 minutes of the legislature’s time to prevent 33,000 injuries per year,” says OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “If the government truly cares about worker safety, they must do the right thing and bring this bill back for third reading.” “Despite the government’s assurances that it would act on Justice Archie Campbell’s SARS report, the government is still dragging its feet on implementing the mandatory use of Safety Engineered Medical Devices in our health care centres” says Sharleen Stewart, International Canadian Vice President, SEIU Canada. “That one act can begin saving lives immediately.” ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, says “ONA’s 53,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals are asking the government to treat Bill 30 as a priority. This legislation is urgently required to protect the lives and well-being of front-line health care workers across Ontario. Requiring the use of safety-engineered sharps devices is the right thing to do, as other Canadian provinces and much of the U.S. have already realized.” Every April 28 for over twenty years, workers, unions and other organizations stop to remember and honour those who have died, suffered injury or experienced illness due to work-related causes. -30- For more information, contact: David Cox, OPSEU: 416-443-8888; John Van Beek, SEIU, 905-660-1800, ext. 319; Sheree Bond, ONA: 416-964-8833, ext. 2430



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