Published on: 17/03/2020

At the direction of the Business Manager, Jack Oliveira, this message is being sent to you.

We thought we would set out our position for all contractors and Associations and ask that the Associations share this message with all contractors you represent.

Local 183 reserves all of its legal rights without exception.

Local 183 is a trade union. We "represent" our members in their dealings with their employers. Contractors or Employers have the exclusive right to manage their business enterprise. We will not advise employers on how to run their business and we trust they are getting whatever advice they need from there professionals or any Association and perhaps others.
The current situation involving the Virus is very fluid and changing literally hourly.

We remind contractors of the requirements of section 25(2)(h) of the OHSA which provides that an employer must take every reasonable precaution for the health and safety of the worker. As well, all workers in Ontario have the right to refuse unsafe pursuant to OHSA.

Workers, adversely impacted, including but not limited to, being denied work because of recent travel and or anyone removed from the workplace or anyone precluded from working due to exposure, should immediately be provided with an ROE, to avoid, as much as possible, any unnecessary economic harm to the worker.

Workers impacted by the Virus have the right to obtain Employment Insurance without any prescribed waiting period. Contractors and Employers must not prevent our members from receiving timely Employment Insurance Benefits.

Local 183 will file any and all grievances necessary to preserve any claims to be made for our members. Where appropriate we will be requesting that the contractor agree to hold the grievance in abeyance until such time as the Union can fully consider the grievance and its position moving forward.

We would ask that all contractors deal with the Union Representative assigned to their job sites in an open and transparent fashion and we have asked the same of our Union Representatives.

Don't ask the Union Reps to approve or authorize a course of conduct or plan of action. It is not their job to do so and they will refuse all such requests as does the Union generally at this time.

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