“We’re calling on the B.C. Government to force employers to implement worker safety procedures that comply with provincial safety regulations,” said James Cavalluzzo, BCGEU.
Vancouver (3 June 2011) - The British Columbia Government and Service Employees Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) is demanding better enforcement of worker safety regulations after a 21-year-old woman was assaulted and stabbed by a youth client at the KEYS group home in Cranbrook, B.C. on May 26, 2011.
The woman, a BCGEU/NUPGE member, was seriously injured. She was working alone at the time of the attack. Her employer was supposed to check-in with her every two hours. This appears to have not happened.
“Our members keep telling us workplace violence is on the rise. The employer in this case wasn’t doing enough to protect this vulnerable worker – the check-in procedure wasn’t appropriate,” said BCGEU community social services component chair James Cavalluzzo.
Cavalluzzo also said chronic underfunding of community social services is resulting in facilities moving to skeleton staffing.
“We’re calling on the B.C. Government to force employers to implement worker safety procedures that comply with provincial safety regulations,” said Cavalluzzo. “We also want the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) to enforce health and safety regulations to ensure employer compliance.”
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE
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