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AUPE News & Updates
Member Updates
Wednesday, July 16, 2003
Labour Coalition on WCB seeks letters and signatures that support
changes to board’s strike policy
EDMONTON – In response to a review of an Alberta Workers Compensation
Board to treat strikes and lockouts differently, AUPE and other labour
organizations are taking part in a petition and letter writing campaign.
Letters need to be submitted and petitions forwarded to the WCB by Monday,
July 21.
The campaign was sparked by the Alberta WCB’s decision to review
its policy of stopping income payments to workers on modified work and
claiming non-compliance if their union local goes on strike and they
do not agree to cross the picket line.
On the other hand, if the union local is locked out by an employer,
then the WCB continues to pay.
The Labour Coalition on WCB, of which AUPE is an active member, is seeking
letters and petition signatures from members arguing that strikes and
lockouts should be treated in the same manner by the WCB.
The coalition argues that while the current WCB policy appears on its
face to be impartial, it in fact does not take into account realities
of labour relations.
As a result, the coalition says the policy should be amended to provide
full benefits and services to workers during a strike.
Strikes are not simply the result of employee decisions, the coalition
points out, but are often deliberately provoked by anti-union employers
because of the lack of meaningful penalties or remedial actions under
Alberta labour laws.
In addition, strikes and lockouts are often declared at almost the same
time, creating bureaucratic problems in determining whether employees
are entitled to benefits.
Injured workers are already suffering from the stress of their injury,
the coalition says, and it is unfair to put them in the position of
having to face additional financial hardship or face the psychological
and social implications of crossing a picket line.
Moreover, unlike other workers, injured employees do not have the resources
to save income in preparation for a strike.
The coalition asks union members to send their own letters to the WCB
on this issue.
Letters should be addressed to Ms. Lynn Fogwill, Manager, Policy Development,
Alberta Workers Compensation Board. A
sample letter with complete address information can be read by clicking
here. Letters can be faxed to 780-489-7884.
A petition calling for a policy that
is fair to injured workers, which can be faxed to the board at 780-489-7884,
can be downloaded by clicking here.
Letters or comments may also be sent to the WCB using the form that
can be accessed at www.wcb.ab.ca/policy/
Although the official deadline for submissions is July 21, the WCB says
it will accept comments at this Web address until July 26, 2003.
AUPE urges members to sign the petition, write letters and get these
materials to the WCB.
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