| Unions to urge WCB to focus on enforcement at March 27
Richmond Public Hearing on changes to workers' compensation March 26, 2003
Major changes that water down the protection of British Columbia workers are being
proposed by the WCB, a move which is being condemned by labour groups across the province.
The changes proposed by the WCB would see a significant downgrading of standards that
protect workers, including healthcare workers and forest workers and are the direct result
of pressure from employers and the provincial government.
"It's very hard for any normal person to understand why it makes any sense to make
worksites more dangerous when 193 workers died last year and 4,004 workers were
permanently injured," B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair said.
"Particularly upsetting is the decision of the WCB to lower many standards to United
States levels, a move that is not based on any scientific evidence."
Despite the serious implications of the changes, the WCB is only holding hearings in
Prince George and Vancouver. At the Prince George hearing not one employer turned up to
defend the changes.
The second and final hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, March 27, 2003, at the
Rehabilitation Centre, 6951 Westminster Highway, Richmond. The Federation will present its
brief at 11:00 a.m.
Sinclair called on the WCB to reject the provincial government's demand that one-third of
regulations be cut, a move that seriously threatens the health and safety of British
Columbians.
"This type of political direction based on blind ideology rather than scientific
evidence should be rejected by the WCB," Sinclar said. "The Board should be
spending its time counting the number of lives it can save and not the number of
regulations it can cut."
For more information: Bev Pausche 604-220-0739 |
