IAMAW Canada – Letter from IP Martinez and GVP Pickthall to Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

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Letter from IP Martinez and GVP Pickthall to Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

By Email: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca

Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

We are writing you in our capacities as the International President and General Vice President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), on behalf of 50,000 members across Canada, and 600,000 across North America. Our members work in a variety of industries from aircraft parts manufacturing, aircraft overhaul and repair, air transportation, aerospace, automotive parts manufacturing, the hospitality sector, custom paint additives, industrial pump manufacturing, and the public sector. We are quickly growing and have become the fastest-growing union in the healthcare and hospitality sectors.

Many of our members are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, those working at airports and in healthcare settings. Not only are these workers on the frontlines, some of them work in industries that are of a strategic and national importance and are now putting their health and safety on the line for the sake of the greater good.

Canada’s workers are facing a major crisis on many fronts, perhaps none as urgent as lack of access to personal protective equipment. Workers we rely on to maintain a semblance of normalcy during these uncertain and unpredictable times, are working without protection. Reports of workers infected with the virus seem to grow each day, and despite the risks they face, these brave men and women relentlessly go to work every day.

While frontline workers are expected to continue working, some employers are failing in their duty to protect the health and safety of their workforce. Many are skirting their obligations by following general guidelines issued by public health agencies, which are neither specific to the unique nature of workplaces nor the risks. Due to such oversight and disregard of IAMAW’s recommendations, some of our members have tested positive to COVID-19 through exposure at work. Our members in healthcare, particularly those in community settings are especially vulnerable to contracting the virus. As you may know, the recent outbreak of COVID-19 in several long term care homes has drawn attention to the issue of pandemic preparedness. Since retirement homes and long term care homes are not prioritized in rationing of personal protective equipment, workers in these establishments are especially vulnerable. This is unacceptable.

Employers must be held to a higher standard and be accountable; after all, employer policies can also help curb the spread of the virus. We are asking the federal government and public health agencies to demand that employers go above and beyond general pandemic guidelines and apply the precautionary principle to workplace policies to protect workers.

We understand that the supply of personal protective equipment and medical supplies are under severe strain. This is exacerbated by Canada’s reliance on foreign suppliers, many of whom can’t meet the global demand. It is also worrisome that the Trump administration is preventing suppliers in the United States from shipping supplies to Canada. The inability to produce these much-needed supplies domestically has left Cananda particularly vulnerable at a critical time.

We applaud the federal government’s recent efforts to negotiate deals with domestic firms to begin producing critical medical and personal protective equipment. However, to date, only three firms are confirmed to begin production, and our concern is that this will be insufficient given an expected surge of cases.

There are a number of employers we deal with who may be able to convert operations into production of personal protective equipment, and we ask the federal government to mandate businesses who are able to do so, to take immediate action. This is not a time for negotiating; it’s a time to take swift action to protect our communities and our economy.

members are appreciative of efforts the federal government has undertaken in a quickly changing environment, and are counting on you to ensure those on the frontlines are working safely.

Respectfully,

International President
Robert Martinez Jr.

General Vice President- Canada
Stan Pickthall

Cc” The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs chrystia.freeland@parl.gc.ca

CLC – Sick Leave Across Canada

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Sick Leave Across Canada

Rules around sick leave differ across Canada and legislative changes are happening quickly. These are the most up-to-date numbers.

Canada’s unions have called on the provincial, territorial and federal governments to provide immediate income supports to workers affected by COVID-19 quarantine and closures. We have also called for employers to permit flexible working arrangements and provide paid sick leave while maintaining drug coverage.

Nationally, under the Canada Labour Code: 5 days of leave in a calendar year for sick leave or related to the health or care of any of their family members, includes 3 paid days after 3 months of continuous employment.

Yukon, under the Yukon Employment Standards Act: 1 unpaid day of sick leave every month the employee has been employed by that employer, less the number of days on which the employee has previously been absent due to illness or injury, up to a maximum of 12 days.

Northwest Territories: 5 unpaid days in each 12-month period for sick leave or family responsibility leave in a year after 30 continuous days of employment with the same employer.

Nunavut: Unclear.

British Columbia: 5 unpaid days of leave relating to the care or health of a child in the employee’s care or another member of the employee’s immediate family.

Alberta: 5 unpaid days of leave in a calendar year for sick leave, or for family care responsibilities after 90 days of employment with the same employer.

For COVID-19: 14 unpaid days of leave with no requirement of a specific term of employment or doctor’s note, retroactive to March 5, 2020. This applies to part-time and full-time workers but does not apply to the self-employed or contractors.

Saskatchewan: Under the Saskatchewan Employment Act, 0 days of paid leave and 12 days of unpaid sick leave or for the care of family members.

For COVID-19, an unspecified number of unpaid days of leave for isolation, quarantine or to care for dependents with no requirement for a medical note or for a specific employment period, and retroactive to March 6, 2020.

Manitoba: Under the Manitoba Employment Standards Code, 3 unpaid days of leave in a year for sick leave or for family care responsibilities after 30 days of employment with the same employer.

Ontario: Under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 3 unpaid days of leave in a calendar year for a personal illness, injury or medical emergency after two consecutive weeks of employment with the same employer; 3 unpaid days of leave for illness, injury or medical emergency of a family member after two consecutive weeks with the same employer; and, 8 weeks of unpaid leave to provide care or support to a family member that has a serious medical condition.

For COVID-19, an unspecified number of unpaid days for those who are in isolation or quarantine, or those who need to be away from work to care for family and children because of school or daycare closures. These measures are retroactive to January 25, 2020, with no requirement for a specific period of employment or for a medical note.

Quebec: Under an Act Respecting Labour Standards, 2 paid days of leave to take care of a relative or person with whom they act as an informal caregiver or in the case of sickness after 3 months of employment; 10 days per year to fulfil obligations relating to the care, health or education of the employee’s child or the child of the employee’s spouse, or because of the state of health of a relative or a person for whom the employee acts as a caregiver and the first 2 days shall be paid according to a formula, and after 3 months of continuous employment.

For COVID-19: Residents of Quebec 18 and over who are isolating because they have symptoms or have tested positive, have been in contact with an infected person; or, have travelled outside of the country may be granted $573 per week for a period of 14 days of isolation or up to 28 days if justified, if they are not receiving compensation from their employer, private insurance or another government program. The order to self-isolate must be given by the Government of Canada, the Gouvernement du Quebec or another responsible authority. To apply, residents must register here.

New Brunswick: Under the New Brunswick Employment Standards Act, 5 unpaid days of leave in a calendar year for sick leave after 90 days of employment and 3 unpaid days of leave in a calendar year for family care responsibility leave.

Nova Scotia: Under the Nova Scotia Labour Standards Code, 3 unpaid days of leave in a year for leave due to the sickness of a child, parent or family member; or for medical, dental or other similar appointments during working hours.

Prince Edward Island: Under the Prince Edward Island Employment Standards Act, 3 unpaid days of leave in a calendar year for sick leave after 3 months of continuous employment; 1 paid day of leave in a calendar year, in addition to any unpaid leave that the worker is entitled to, after five continuous years of employment; and, 3 unpaid days of leave in a calendar year for family care responsibility leave after six continuous months with the same employer.

Newfoundland and Labrador: Under the Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Standards Act, 7 unpaid days of leave for sick leave or family responsibility leave in a year after 30 continuous days of employment with the same employer.