The Postal Workers’ Union (CUPW) will file a grievance to oppose the mandatory vaccination of its members against COVID-19 under penalty of being placed on unpaid leave.
CUPW has indicated that it is currently drafting this “national grievance” to challenge Canada Post’s vaccination practice.
“As you know, this practice will ensure that members will be placed on unpaid leave after November 26, 2021”, wrote the union in a message to its members to announce the preparation of this grievance.
“After November 26, any employee who is not fully vaccinated, who is partially vaccinated but does not intend to be fully vaccinated, or who has not been accommodated for certain reasons will be terminated. on leave without pay, ”confirmed Tuesday Philipe Legault, director of media relations at Canada Post.
On October 28, in a message titled “Canada Post’s New Mandatory Vaccination Practice,” the company said that by November 12, all of its employees who work at a Canada Post facility or any other location, include including those who work remotely, should provide a certificate of their vaccination status, to know if they are fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated or unvaccinated.
Exemptions
Canada Post then specified that those who could not be fully vaccinated “for medical or religious reasons or for any other ground of unlawful discrimination within the meaning of the Canadian Human Rights Act” could be granted “measures of ‘adaptation’ under certain conditions.
But such accommodations could be offered “only if sufficient evidence is provided for one of the prohibited grounds of discrimination,” Canada Post said.
The company also specified that any request for accommodation will be refused if it is based on “personal preference rather than one of the prohibited grounds of discrimination set out in the Canadian Human Rights Act”.
She added that she would also refuse such a request if “she simply alleges a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms”.
“Our policy is in line with the federal government’s approach and concerns all employees,” said Mr. Legault.
“The development of the practice has been the subject of an important process of consultation and discussion with all of our bargaining units, including the Union of Postal Workers,” added Mr. Legault.
The Postal Workers Union has 54,000 members, according to its website. In Quebec, it is affiliated with the FTQ.