BCAA Re-opening

The past several months has been unprecedented, and your Union has been working with the Employer every step of the way in a cooperative approach to ensure the safety and well-being of our members.

As BCAA moves towards re-opening its Service Locations to clients, albeit with substantial restrictions, we wanted to review the steps taken thus far and also provide you with some guidance as we move forward.

First, I can advise that to the Union’s knowledge, the Employer has met all relevant health authority guidelines, and has proactively sought their advice. The Employer has, with input and consultation from the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees and the Union, put in place a number of policies, procedures and protocols to ensure your continued health and safety. This has included risk assessments at every location, reviewing best practices and setting occupancy limits for in-house interactions, continuing with cleaning procedures, as well as adopting a number of engineering, administrative and personal protection equipment protocols.

Whether you have remained at the worksite throughout, or are now returning from working from home, we ask that all of you remain vigilant, and report any concerns immediately to a member of your Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee, your manager, or directly to a Union Steward or your Union Representative.

All of our members at BCAA are reminded to:

• Continuously and diligently monitor your health for fever, cough, sneezing, sore throat or difficulty breathing.
• Do not come to work if you are sick.
• Contact your doctor or BC HealthLink at 8-1-1 immediately if you become sick or experience any of the above symptoms.

Further information about COVID-19 is available on the BC CDC website:

• http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19

Your Union will continue to work with BCAA as we move through the COVID-19 pandemic. Our utmost priority is to ensure our members are safe in the workplace.

MoveUP members can take steps to protect one another. Everyone MUST wash their hands and use sanitizing wipes on any objects, surfaces, etc. that are touched by co-workers in-between cleaning schedules. All members should be vigilant and ensure that social distancing protocols are followed at work.  If you aren’t able to practice social distancing, please report to your manager and your local OH&S representative and your Union.  MoveUP is working hard to ensure that our OH&S Committees are activated and well informed about COVID-19 and that all employers meet their responsibility to provide a healthy and safe workplace during the pandemic.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Union Steward, or your Union Representative Scott Wilcox, or our WCB and OH&S Specialist Niki Schnurr.

For more resources and information, please visit:

www.MoveUPTogether.ca/FlattenTheCurve.

In Solidarity,

Scott Wilcox, Union Representative
Christy Slusarenko, Vice-President of Combined Units