Shared Health recently issued
a directive saying that due to the pandemic, community support workers must
wear a mask and protective eyewear during every client interaction.
“MGEU has made repeated efforts to ensure that members in Prairie Mountain Health and Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority have the personal protective equipment necessary to safely do their work. Despite this, these employers continue to restrict the appropriate use of PPE and they often provide unclear and contradictory direction on PPE usage,” said MGEU President, Michelle Gawronsky.
As a result, the union has requested the intervention of the provincial safety and health regulatory authority, the Workplace Safety and Health Branch.
“We have requested that the
Branch contact these employers to ensure they are complying with the directive.
We’ve asked that they get back to us as quickly as possible,” Gawronsky said.
MGEU is also determining what other means are available to ensure compliance
with the Shared Health directive, advising that affected members will receive
updated information as it becomes available.