(Bridgewater, N.S.) - The provincial committee conducting a review of Nova Scotias Workers Compensation Board wraps up its public hearings today, but not before hearing from the countrys largest union.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees will argue that the outcome of these hearings could have a profound effect on the future of the workforce in the province.
CUPE Health & Safety Rep. Robert Wells says, All of our recommendations are made with an eye to eliminating, or at least reducing, workplace injuries and diseases.
Here are some of the key recommendations from CUPE:
- That there be minimum legislative requirements to ensure all workplaces perform monthly joint workplace inspections.
- That the WCB set a zero tolerance for workplace injuries and view all injuries as preventable.
- That the WCB and the Government of Nova Scotia acknowledge that current levels of death, injury and diseases caused by work are unacceptably high.
- The Nova Scotia Government must increase staffing levels to ensure that the enforcement policy can be carried out.
- No worker should be excluded from the compensation system.
Danny Cavanagh, Vice-President of CUPE Nova Scotia says, We will be encouraging the WCB to actively monitor employers to ensure they are carrying out corrective changes to prevent re-occurring incidents. One death or even one injury in the workplace is one too many.
(EDITORS: CUPE WILL BE MAKING ITS PRESENTATION AT 10:40 A.M., FRIDAY OCTOBER 5 AT THE WANDLYN INN IN BRIDGEWATER)
For information:
Rob Wells, CUPE Health & Safety Rep.
(902) 455-4180 (o); (902) 497-3006 (cell)
John McCracken, CUPE Communications Representative
(902) 455-4180 (o)