The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Manitoba, representing 37,000 public sector workers across the province, welcomes the introduction of Bill 29: The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act. This bill helps ensure safer workplaces for all Manitoba workers.
The definition of psychological health and safety has been a longheld priority of CUPE locals, who have fought to get it into our Collective Agreements and workplace policies for over a decade. This change provides a meaningful new health and safety tool to our activists in their workplace advocacy.
CUPE Manitoba is pleased to see the government introducing stronger enforcement measures against employers who put workers at risk. The bill addresses long-standing concerns by:
- Imposing stricter penalties on employers who fail to report serious workplace injuries and incidents;
- Strengthening protections for workers who experience employer retaliation for raising health and safety concerns.
Additionally, CUPE Manitoba supports provisions in the bill that enhance workers’ rights to refuse dangerous work.
Employers must be held responsible for protecting workers from psychological harm just as they are for physical injuries.
CUPE Manitoba will continue to push for further action to improve workplace health and safety, including:
- Addressing the alarming rise in workplace violence, particularly in health care, education and frontline public services;
- Reducing the high injury rates in health care, education, and municipal services to improve safety and alleviate staff shortages;
- Ensuring that menstrual products are provided in all workplaces as essential hygiene products;
- Updating safety laws to better protect workers from extreme temperatures due to climate change.
CUPE Manitoba looks forward to working with the provincial government to build on these measures and create safer, healthier workplaces for all Manitobans.