Are you taking safety at your workplace seriously?
Maybe you think twice before starting a task that might prove dangerous. Maybe you check that you’re wearing the appropriate protection equipment.
Unfortunately, that’s not always enough.
Much of the work done by AUPE members comes with the risk of physical or mental injury.
While there are laws that govern occupational health and safety, we cannot rely on rules and regulations alone to keep us safe.
It’s our job as workers to take workplace safety seriously. That’s why unions have successfully fought for joint workplace health and safety committees that include worker representatives. After all, no one knows more about our work than we do.
To make these joint committees effective, we need workers to step forward and stand for election to these important positions.
These elections take place at the Annual General Meetings (AGMs) of AUPE chapters. They are held between early January and the end of April. Check with your local chapter leaders for AGM dates for your chapter.
Note for current reps on joint committees
If you are already a member of a joint workplace safety committee, your term will come to an end at your chapter’s AGM.
If you want to continue in that role, you need to do one of two things:
- Attend your chapter’s AGM and put your name forward; or
- Send a proxy nomination to your chapter chair, your Membership Services Officer (MSO) or an AUPE vice-president.
Interested in becoming a rep on a joint committee?
If you are not serving on a joint committee but are interested, we have resources to help you.
There is lots of relevant information about workplace health and safety and the work of AUPE’s Occupational Health and Safety Committee on the committee web page.
There are also resources specific to workplace joint committees on the page. You can also find resources specific to joint workplace committees here and here.
If you want to run, you need to do one of two things:
- Attend your chapter’s AGM and put your name forward; or
- Send a proxy nomination to your chapter chair, your Membership Services Officer (MSO) or an AUPE vice-president.
Message from AUPE’s Occupational Health and Safety Committee
“On behalf of the committee, I’d like to thank all members who have been serving on workplace joint committees,” says Bonnie Gostola, AUPE vice-president and chair of the union’s Occupational Health and Safety Committee.
“To all other members, we ask that you consider standing for election. The work of these committees is important. This is where we can keep the pressure on employers to keep us safe. These committees literally save lives.”