Bulletin
BC Transit – COVID-19- Mitigation Discussions – Update #1 – March 19, 2020
March 19, 2020
To: All MoveUP members at BC Transit
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Human coronaviruses are common and are typically associated with mild illnesses, similar to the common cold. COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new coronavirus. Symptoms can range from mild illness to pneumonia. Some people will recover easily, and others may get very sick very quickly.
We have been monitoring the situation closely. Things are changing fast. Reports and governmental recommendations are changing daily. We are working diligently to keep track of any mandates from government, discussing changes with your employer, making recommendations and seeking clarity on issues that have any potential impact on the health and safety of our members.
Here is what we can report today:
We are talking to BC Transit Leadership regularly to try and assess what the next move is for staff, and who are most at risk. Everyone is important and everyone has a unique circumstance, but we are trying to prioritize our efforts to be most effective and efficient. As well, we are working to support those with compromised immunity and health concerns, or those who have returned from a trip outside Canada. It is our understanding, as of right now, that there are no cases of COVID-19 within BC Transit.
If you have returned from a trip outside Canada, you must contact HR/Abilities Management prior to returning to work. As you have likely heard, regardless of if you are sick or not, you must self isolate for 14 days prior to returning to work. BC Transit has issued guidelines in consultation with your Union on how the isolation period will be treated based on when you travelled:
Where BC Transit requires an employee to self-isolate, if you do not have the ability to work from home during your self isolation BC Transit will provide paid admin leave to employees (based on what days you travelled- please refer to their guidelines). If you become ill during your self-isolation, you are required to access your sick leave and book off sick.
In consultation with your Union BC Transit has advised no medical documentation will be required to verify that you have COVID-19. However, you must produce documentation that you are safe to return after combating the illness.
If you have questions about this directive, please contact HR for direction.
If you are concerned that you have been exposed to COVID-19, or if you have come into contact with anyone returning from one of the following countries in the last 14 days (China, Iran, Italy, Spain, South Korea), you must monitor your health and if you start to experience respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, fever, difficulty breathing etc.) or if you are medically advised by a doctor, health authority or BC Health Link line at 8-1-1 to self-isolate, please do not come to work. If they recommend that you self-isolate for 14 days, please follow their recommendations, otherwise please return to work when your symptoms have resolved or you have been medically cleared to return. In any of those scenarios, please contact your manager and the Abilities Management.
If you are feeling unwell : To protect those most vulnerable, please self monitor your health and apply a low threshold when feeling unwell. Call in sick and stay home until you are feeling better.
In consultation with the Union BC Transit has advised of the following:
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
Symptoms of COVID-19 are like other respiratory illnesses. Commonly, these are fever/chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose. Shortness of breath and chest pain can be signs of severe illness.
If you are at a higher risk of infection due to diagnosed medical issues, you must self identify as such to HR. Medical documentation or disclosure of diagnosis will be required, and we will work together with the employer to implement accommodations that reduce your risk of exposure.
Working From Home: BC Transit is working with your Union to consider working from home options for members of the bargaining unit:
BC Transit is equipping employees who can, with the proper equipment and authorization, work from home. Certain groups of employees are being deemed essential by the Employer, if you have questions about why your department/job has been deemed essential please bring your concerns to your Director. BC Transit will provide the Union with a list of employees working from home soon.
BC Transit is determining which meetings are essential and non-essential and encourage employees to use Skype or teleconference where practical.
We continue to discuss additional health and safety protocols for those considered by the employer as essential staff. More information will be shared via bulletin shortly.
EFAP : We encourage all members and their dependents to seek support from your EFAP provider, Homewood Health, should they be experiencing heightened anxiety or are in need of support. EFAP can be reached at 1-800-663-1142 (English) 1-866-398-9505 (French) or via the Homewood Health website.
In Solidarity,
Parm Sandhar
Union Representative