{"id":4866,"date":"2021-04-28T06:20:51","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T06:20:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/28april.org\/?p=4866"},"modified":"2021-04-28T06:20:51","modified_gmt":"2021-04-28T06:20:51","slug":"canada-day-of-mourning-recognizing-the-human-cost-of-covid-19-public-service-alliance-of-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/28april.org\/?p=4866","title":{"rendered":"Canada: Day of Mourning – Recognizing the human cost of COVID-19 | Public Service Alliance of Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"

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On\u00a0the\u00a0National Day of Mourning,\u00a0PSAC joins Canada\u2019s unions in recognizing\u00a0the devastating human cost of\u00a0COVID-19.<\/p>\n

One year later, the pandemic has exposed many of the gaps inPSAC protections for workers across Canada. Workers and unions have had to fight for access to personal protective equipment, safe social distancing measures at work, paid sick leave and respect for basic health and safety rights.<\/p>\n

Many of these health and safety issues are not new, but they\u2019ve been exacerbated by the pandemic, and they disproportionately impact workers from marginalized communities because many work precarious jobs without access to sick leave.<\/p>\n

Throughout the pandemic, PSAC has been\u00a0working to\u00a0secure safe and healthy working conditions for our members, wherever work is taking place.\u00a0PSAC members have been exposed to COVID-19 at meat-packing plants, border crossings, federal penitentiaries, in hospitals, on military bases and at the office.\u00a0We continue\u00a0to fight\u00a0for access to free personal protective equipment,\u00a0proper\u00a0training\u00a0and paid sick\u00a0days so that workers can stay home when they\u2019re\u00a0sick\u00a0without the risk of exposing their\u00a0co-workers, families\u00a0and communities to COVID-19.<\/p>\n

An estimated 58 per cent of Canadian workers don’t have access to paid sick leave through their employers, according to a report by the Decent Work and Health Network<\/a>. That number rises to 70 per cent among people making less than $25,000 a year.<\/p>\n

In the months ahead, our health and safety committees\u00a0will\u00a0continue to\u00a0monitor\u00a0workplaces, making sure\u00a0employers respect your health and safety rights, including the right to refuse unsafe work,\u00a0and ensure that all workplaces are safe before reopening.<\/p>\n

PSAC will\u00a0also\u00a0continue to pressure provincial and territorial governments to provide universal, permanent and adequate paid sick leave so that nobody has to choose between going to work sick and getting paid.<\/p>\n

Take action\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

To add your voice\u00a0to the call for paid sick leave for all, join the Canadian Labour Congress\u2019s\u00a0phone banking session on April 28<\/a>\u00a0(English only) to call on decision-makers to take action on\u00a0paid sick leave.<\/p>\n

You can also\u00a0download the\u00a0CLC\u2019s\u00a0digital toolkit<\/a>\u00a0and shareables<\/a> to mark\u00a0the National\u00a0Day of Mourning\u00a0with Facebook and Twitter profile pictures\u00a0while attending online\u00a0ceremonies in your area.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/psacunion.ca\/day-mourning-recognizing-human-cost-covid-19<\/a><\/p>\n

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