Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act

Over the weekend the Ontario Government, under the Emergency Measures and Civil Protection Act, issued a temporary order to Ontario hospitals.

Under this order hospitals will be able to respond to, prevent and alleviate an outbreak of COVID-19 by carrying out measures such as:

Redeploying staff within different locations in (or between) facilities of the hospital;
Redeploying staff to work in COVID-19 assessment centres;
Changing the assignment of work, including assigning non-bargaining unit employees or contractors to perform bargaining unit work;
Changing the scheduling of work or shift assignments;
Deferring or cancelling vacations, absences or other leaves, regardless of whether such vacations, absences or leaves are established by statute, regulation, agreement or otherwise;
Employing extra part-time or temporary staff or contractors, including for the purpose of performing bargaining unit work;
Using volunteers to perform work, including to perform bargaining work; and
Providing appropriate training or education as needed to staff and volunteers to achieve the purposes of a redeployment plan.

This declaration gives hospitals temporary powers which include overriding Collective Agreements to respond to the pandemic on a range of issues.

We are working closely with the employer to ensure our members rights are protected during this time.

Lorrie Kennedy President CUPE Local 815

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