EDMONTON – Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) President Guy Smith said the introduction of Bill 30: An Act to Protect the Health and Well-being of Working Albertans is a welcome move, that if passed, would modernize protections for workers province-wide.
“This positive enhancement to the Occupational Health and Safety Act is long overdue and will allow employees more say in their safety on the job, which could help save lives.
“We’re pleased a number of recommendations AUPE made to improve the system were adopted by the province, including the right to refuse unsafe work, more protection from discriminatory acts by employers who receive safety complaints, and mandatory province-wide occupational health and safety committees, something the union has been pushing for since 1977,” Smith said.
Other highlights include the defining of roles and responsibilities of work site parties; increased powers to OHS officers and more information sharing between bodies like labour and the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB).
“Significant changes to WCB within the bill will see the Board have less absolute power over injured workers,” said Smith. “Employees’ claims will now be received with more conviction by the Board and when all things are equal, resolve will be in favour of the worker.”
Further improvements to WCB include an increase to the amount of time a worker has to appeal a decision from one year to two; a fair practices office; removal of the earnings cap; increased benefit in case of fatality to dependents; increased duty to accommodate and more increases to rights for young workers.
“We’re also encouraged there will be enhanced recognition that psychological injuries can occur in any job,” Smith said. “However the union will continue to fight for more occupational inclusions for presumptive Post Traumatic Stress Disorder coverage.”
AUPE is Alberta’s largest union with more than 93,000 members province-wide.
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For more information:
Guy Smith, AUPE President: 780-265-2294
Tyler Bedford, AUPE Senior Communications Officer: 780-930-3406