Tag: COVID-19
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Business has to do what’s right and send workers home
Toronto — Now is the time for Ontario’s business leaders to step up and do what’s right in the face of the biggest health threat this province has ever seen, says OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “We are calling on the province’s business leaders to send workers home for the next two weeks with full…
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COVID-19 Directive #1 for Health Care Providers and Health Care Entities
Issued under Section 77.7 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA), R.S.0.1990, c. H.7 WHEREAS under section 77.7(1) of the HPPA, if the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) is of the opinion that there exists or there may exist an immediate risk to the health of persons anywhere in Ontario, he or she…
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OPSEU remaining operational, but closing offices for at least two weeks to slow COVID-19 spread
TORONTO – No OPSEU leaders or staff have been diagnosed with COVID-19, but the union is closing all of its offices and postponing almost all meetings and events for at least two weeks. Staff have been directed to work from home in order to support efforts to halt the community spread of the virus. “When lives…
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Important announcement regarding OPSEU operations during the COVID-19 outbreak
Today the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. We have and will continue to assess the situation daily and are following expert advice and guidance. Given the evolving circumstances, OPSEU offices will begin closing effective end of business Wednesday March 11, 2020. This will permit staff to gather all relevant work equipment and…
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Statement on the Wuhan Novel Coronavirus
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is joining with the Canadian Health Professionals Secretariat (CHPS) to call for the updating of protections for health care workers to ensure that these workers are able to serve the public effectively in the event of a widespread infection. Ottawa (30 Jan. 2020) ― The National…
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Thomas to cabinet: Protect our workers!
OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas has written to Premier Ford and all members of his cabinet, urging them to involve frontline OPSEU members in developing strategies to address and contain the coronavirus. In his letters, Thomas cites the 2003 SARS Commission, which admonished the government for ignoring or silencing the voices of frontline workers. He…
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We must stop the hate spreading with the coronavirus
The coronavirus is a new disease that can be fatal and seems capable of spreading rapidly – people are feeling some fear and that’s OK. What’s not OK – what’s never OK – is letting your fear turn into hatred. I’m seeing disturbing reports about the rise of anti-Chinese and anti-Asian racism sparked by coronavirus…