Ottawa Rising rates of workplace injuries and health and safety problems are drawing a record number of union members half of them women to the CUPE National Health and Safety Conference set to start Thursday night in Montreal.
The number of health and safety activists coming to this conference should serve as a warning to employers and governments, said CUPE National President Paul Moist. Workers have a right to control what happens to our bodies and our lives. We will step up and take action.
Health and safety work is not just improving lives, it is saving lives, said CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Claude Gnreux. And we will continue to demand change until no more hazards exist.
Anthony Pizzino, director of CUPE Nationals Health and Safety Branch, said privatization and cutbacks are taking their toll on workers.
Speed-up and overwork are causing problems from debilitating ergonomic injuries to stress and workload, said Pizzino. Peoples bodies are hurting. And in many cases, its women who are suffering, particularly those who work in health care.
Conference agenda: http://www.cupe.ca/www/HealthUpdates/AgendaHSconf
-
WHAT CUPE National 9th Health and Safety Conference
- WHEN Thursday evening, October 21 thru Sunday, October 24
- WHERE Delta Centre-Ville, 777 University Street, Montreal
CUPE represents over half a million Canadian workers in health care, municipalities, education, hydro, airlines, child care, and social services. CUPE members deliver the services that Canadians rely upon each day from the MRI technician at the local hospital to the workers at the homeless shelter to flight attendants our members are the front line workers who defend public services.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Paul Moist, National President (613) 558-2873 (cell)
Claude Gnreux, National Secretary-Treasurer (613) 794-8395 (cell) (porte-parole francophone)
Anthony Pizzino, National Health and Safety director (613) 794-4509
Doreen Meyer, Communications (613) 791-3008