Bulletin
IWA Forest Industry Pension Plan – COVID-19 Mitigation Discussions – Update # 1
March 19, 2020
To: All MoveUP Members at IWA Forest Industry Pension Plan
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 IWAPP leadership daily 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 the staff and management at IWAPP.
If you have returned from a trip outside Canada, you must contact HR 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. Employees that are at home and not required to work remotely will continue to receive their regular compensation.
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 self isolate for 14 days from the point of contact or exposure prior to returning to work. Employees that are at home and not required to work remotely will continue to receive their regular compensation.
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. Do not work from home if you are sick.
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. No 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.
Ongoing Operations : We are in discussion with IWAPP leadership regarding the implementation of remote operations, including the ability to work from home for those who are able to do so, and increased health and safety protections for employees who are considered essential services working in the office. We received confirmation yesterday that IWAPP plans to move most employees to remote operations with implementation as of next week. Some employees may be required to work from the office occasionally. We will review and discuss the work model with the employer once implemented and recommend changes as required. Employees that are at home and not required to work remotely will continue to receive their regular compensation however, the employer requests that you check the webmail portal daily for updates. This work model will remain in place until at least April 17th, with the parties evaluating the need for ongoing remote operations as the pandemic evolves.
We continue discussions on additional health and safety protocols for those considered by the employer as essential staff and required to work from the office. More information will be shared via bulletin shortly.
We will continue to monitor the situation daily, and we are expecting updated mandates and directives from B.C Government and B.C Health Authority as early as tomorrow. Please feel free to contact a job steward or myself at nbeausoleil@moveuptogether.ca if you have any questions or concerns regarding COVID-19’s impact on your health and safety in the workplace.
In Solidarity,
Nathan Beausoleil
Union Representative