Canada’s largest federal trade union, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), did not challenge the federal vaccine mandate in court.
According to Blacklock’s Reporter, PSAC’s Public Sector Labor Relations and Employment Board “decided that legal challenges were unlikely to succeed and that the most effective way to represent members was on a case-by-case basis.” said.
At a board hearing, the PSAC argued that when a Quebec parole officer, who is also a union member, refused to disclose her vaccination status, the PSAC did not adequately represent her.
PSAC represents approximately 230,000 federal employees across Canada, all of whom have been affected by the federal government’s COVID-19. Vaccine obligation Introduced in October 2021. The mandate he has suspended in late June 2022.
The PSAC conducted a “detailed review of several available options” in considering the possibility of challenging vaccine mandates, but determined that it was probably futile.
“All these efforts have concluded that challenging the policy through complaints or other legal mechanisms has little chance of success. Dealing with files on a case-by-case basis is the best approach.” It was determined that there was board.
The federal vaccine mandate required all federal employees, including telecommuters, to be fully vaccinated. Employees who refused to disclose their vaccination status or did not receive an exemption were placed on leave without pay.
All federal employees on leave for refusing to comply with vaccination requirements were contacted in June to return to their original positions.
“disciplinary action”
In a recent statement, PSAC said it “supports vaccination requirements for federal employees” but is not under threat of “discipline and termination” for those who choose not to be vaccinated.
“Employees with valid medical reasons who are not vaccinated or protected by human rights law must be offered formal accommodation under the law,” August 17 article. read statement.
“If there are workers who are unable or unwilling to be vaccinated, the government will temporarily reassign them to other jobs where possible or arrange alternative work such as remote work. I have to allow it.”
PSAC also said that alternative COVID-19 precautions “need to be considered”, such as regular rapid screening and testing.
Health Canada’s 1996 report “Canadian National Report on Immunizationsaid, “By the Constitution of Canada, vaccination cannot be made mandatory.”
“Laws and regulations should not be construed to imply compulsory vaccination,” it reads.
The government announced in May that more than 98% of all federal employees had received at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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Peter Wilson is a reporter based in Ontario, Canada.