Health and safety | FTQ goes to war against reform

Patrice Bergeron
The Canadian Press

Launched an attack against Bill 59, claiming that it would reduce the protection of many workers.

The FDQ, which will present its position on the parliamentary committee on Wednesday, is demanding that the bill be completely rewritten, the Canadian press reported.

The bill, led by Labor Minister Jean Boulette, aims to reduce planned compensation spending to $ 2.22 billion in 2018.

In a document obtained by the Canadian Press, the FTQ outlines the steps the government will take to bring it back.

In particular, she will launch a campaign with singer Daniel Boucher on written media, social networks, as well as radio. The website Santé-reb-rebate.ca also collects support online.

Members will gather in front of the constituency offices of 125 MPs from Tuesday to Friday.

Under the terms of the new law, many categories of workers will have less protection, judges FTQ.

For example, workers handling explosives are considered to have a lower risk of injury.

Ditto to health workers, FTQ said that most work accidents happen in this sector.

“What is on the table is clearly detrimental to the health and safety of workers,” said FTQ President Daniel Boer. Many absurdities make us unresponsive. ”

According to the bill, employers are divided according to their size and between low, moderate and high risk levels. And, depending on the case, the number of preventive measures that apply to them will vary.

The FTQ asks that the health and safety committee, the establishment-specific health program, the prevention program and the prevention representative maintain four major prevention policies.

Employers Council

The union wants to maintain the importance of the attending physician’s opinion, for example about the injured person’s return to work. However, the employers’ council on Tuesday morning demanded the opposite before a parliamentary committee studying the bill.

The attending physician still has a “very early role” and this can lead to delays and very high costs, determining the CPQ.

Yves-Thomas, executive chairman of the CPQ Board of Directors, lamented that, for example, decisions made to return to work or to others are influenced by the over-opinion of the attending physician, not by the planning manager. Doorwall, during a virtual hearing.

CPQ demands “elimination of public health interference in the workplace.” He is asking for more powers for employers in a professional health and safety system that he feels is very generous.

“We are not saying there should not be a public health contribution to work […], But someone’s interference in the office, not those in and out of the office, ”Mr. Dorwall pleaded.

He was responding to a question from Sylvain Roy, a PQ member who was shocked by the demand. A PQ spokeswoman said public health was concerned about differences of interest in physicians hired by companies.

“We will eliminate public health, which is independent, and we will also hire physicians who have the authority to compete for compensation claims.”

In addition, the CPQ rejects one aspect of the reform, which entrusts the Standards, Equity, Health and Safety at Work (CNESST) Committee to the committee that will determine the rehabilitation process and appropriate employment. The employee returns to work.

Safe motherhood

In addition, CPQ is asking to withdraw the safe maternity program from the current compensation plan.

This preventive withdrawal program costs 240 million a year, which is paid in full by the owners, as is the overall occupational health and safety system. CPQ is demanding that it be transferred to the Federal Employment Insurance Program, as in other provinces.

Re-edition

Keep in mind that the current law has not been amended for 40 years. Bill 59 aims to focus on prevention to reduce compensation costs.

The list of “occupational” diseases is reviewed to access the plan. For post-traumatic stress disorder we add pres han – but not for burn out – and nine new occupational cancers.

According to CNESST data, mental injuries have increased by 67% in the last 10 years.

CNESST paid a total of $ 2.22 billion in benefits in 2018. It then admitted 103,406 occupational injuries and recorded 226 deaths. Every day 251 workers are injured.