CUPE Quebec applauds the announcement that a parliamentary commission will be held as soon as possible into the mandatory vaccination of employees in the health care system who are in close contact with members of the public. For CUPE Quebec, it is a welcome democratic exercise in the midst of a health crisis, which will enable the government and society to make an enlightened choice.
“We always favour raising of awareness and exercising persuasion as plan A in the vaccination of staff. We are continuing with our efforts to this end. Mandatory vaccination raises all kinds of human rights and labour law issues, and the parliamentary commission will shed further light on the topic,” said Frédéric Brisson, the General Secretary of CUPE Quebec.
“The issues relating to mandatory vaccination are substantial. A balanced, prudent and intelligent approach will have to be found. We do want to be heard as representatives of workers who have been on the front lines since the pandemic started,” explained Marie-Hélène Bélanger, the Director of CUPE Quebec.
CUPE Quebec invites the Government of Quebec to hear the views of union organizations at the parliamentary commission to prevent any excesses that would prove counterproductive at a time of labour shortages. For starters, it would be unreasonable to extend this obligation to staff who are not in close contact with patients.