Parliament Hill workers need health and safety protection now

This year marks the 20 th anniversary of the Parliamentary Employment Staff Relations Act. The PSAC is asking all of its members to support our sisters and brothers who work on Parliament Hill who are still not covered by any health and safety laws. The federal government passed a piece of legislation specifically for Parliamentary employees back in 1986, but never proclaimed the provision enacting the health and safety legislation.

Health and safety is a fundamental right for all workers. The workers on Parliament Hill are the only workers left in Canada who are not covered by any basic health and safety legislation. How ironic that the federal government lowers the flag on April 28 but has yet to enact a piece of legislation to cover the health and safety of its own workers.

The PSAC is asking that all members send a letter to your Member of Parliament urging the government to proclaim Part III (Occupational Health and Safety) of the Parliamentary Employment Staff Relations Act.

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The Message:

Your Member of Parliament
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K2P 0A6

I am writing to urge you to help end the injustice that presently exists for Parliamentary workers, who are not afforded the same protections as other workers in the Federal jurisdiction, as they are not covered by any health and safety legislation.

The Parliamentary Employment Staff Relations Act (P.E.S.R.A.) was passed in June 1986. It has now been 20 years since the PESRA was passed and received royal assent, but Part III of this legislation, which deals with Occupational Health and Safety, still has not been proclaimed into law.

Parliamentary workers are still being denied basic health and safety rights, rights that apply to all other workers across Canada , including workers of Provincial and Territorial legislatures.

In a decision dated May 20, 2005 , the Supreme Court of Canada found that the Canadian Human Rights Act applies to all employees of the Federal Government, including those working for Parliament.

The International Labour Organization has stated that Occupational Health and Safety is a human right. I am requesting that this basic human right apply to Parliamentary workers as do the other human rights covered by the Canadian Human Rights Act.

I would ask your assistance in ensuring that the present government proclaims Part III (Occupational Health and Safety) of the Parliamentary Employment Staff Relations Act so that the same basic health and safety rights and protections that apply to all other federal workers under the Canada Labour Code Part II, will also apply to Parliamentary workers.

Sincerely,

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