Ontario government should amend health and safety laws to protect workers from harassment, violence
Workplace violence should be covered under Ontario's health and safety legislation, said one of the province's largest unions.
The government needs to remedy a growing and preventable workplace hazard, the Ontario region vice-president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) union told reporters at Queen's Park in Toronto on Wednesday.
"The Occupational Health and Safety Act provides protection for workers against hazards in the workplace when it comes to machinery, the environment and unsafe products, but it fails to clearly include harassment and violence as a hazard," said Cec Makowski.
The union is spearheading a campaign entitled "A Life Free of Violence — It's Our Right." Thousands of workers have signed petition cards since December in favour of including workplace harassment and violence in the OHSA.
"Mr. McGuinty can send a strong message to women workers especially by amending the act," said Makowski.
The government needs to remedy a growing and preventable workplace hazard, the Ontario region vice-president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) union told reporters at Queen's Park in Toronto on Wednesday.
"The Occupational Health and Safety Act provides protection for workers against hazards in the workplace when it comes to machinery, the environment and unsafe products, but it fails to clearly include harassment and violence as a hazard," said Cec Makowski.
The union is spearheading a campaign entitled "A Life Free of Violence — It's Our Right." Thousands of workers have signed petition cards since December in favour of including workplace harassment and violence in the OHSA.
"Mr. McGuinty can send a strong message to women workers especially by amending the act," said Makowski.
