Workers

Set of principles adopted to guide governments in drafting new legislation to protect injured workers

Barrie (3 Nov. 2006) - Reform of workers’ compensation legislation was at the top of the agenda at a National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) meeting dealing with provincial Workers’ Compensation Boards (WCBs) across Canada.

The participants, representing approximately 10,000 compensation board employees who deliver services to injured workers, endorsed a set of principles for the national reform of legislation covering injured workers. The meeting took place Oct. 26-28 in Barrie, Ont.

Union jurisdiction for employees of the provincial boards (excluding Quebec) has been shared by NUPGE, CUPE and the independent Compensation Employees Union of B.C. (CEU).

NUPGE and CUPE WCB representatives meeting in Barrie, Ont.

With the CEU’s affiliation to NUPGE’s B.C. component, the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) in 2004, components of the National Union now represent WCB workers in six provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., Saskatchewan, Alberta (a unit of health professionals) and B.C. locals of CUPE represents WCB workers in three provinces: New Brunswick, Ontario and Manitoba.

National campaign

One of the purposes of the meeting was to develop a national campaign based on a document entitled Principles of a Fair and Comprehensive Workers’ Compensation System download pdf. The document outlines a universal set of guidelines on how services should be delivered to injured workers in a fair and equitable manner. The principles call for a comprehensive public system, which includes universal coverage, prevention of injury and illness programs, including education programs for young workers, indexed pensions and benefits, and coverage of all workplace injuries and illnesses.

“These principles provide an excellent policy framework on how Worker Compensation Boards should be governed and administered in terms of providing services to injured workers”, notes James Clancy, NUPGE's national president.

“Our National Executive Board formally endorsed these principles at our September 2006 meeting. The National Union is committed to working with all our components, especially those who represent WCB workers, to help promote and build public support for the principles," Clancy said.

Harry Goslin, president of CUPE Local 1750, which represents workers at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario, said WCB services depend directly on workers who deliver them.

"We know the system and its failures best. We know how to fix the problems and we think it is time to sound the alarm. Today we are launching a national campaign calling for the reform of the workers’ compensation systems in all jurisdictions across Canada."

Sandra Wright, president of the Compensation Employee’s Union in B.C., said reform is urgent.

“This campaign will bring fairness and equity to Canadian workers and their families, and reaffirm the historic compromise, which balances the rights of workers and employers,” she said. NUPGE

More information:
Principles of a Fair and Comprehensive Workers' Compensation System pdf