Mandatory vaccination in Canada is becoming a growing issue
Unions are divided on workplace vaccinations.
Private companies in Canada have the right to implement their own vaccination policies, and many of them have decided to require staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Failure to do so could result in the employee being placed on unpaid leave or even dismissed. Lawyers believe it would be very difficult for the employee to defend their right to refuse vaccination by avoiding the consequences in such a case. Opinions are divided among unions across Canada.
The purpose of trade unions is to protect workers' rights. The situation is twofold. Some unions believe that protecting workers means requiring them to be vaccinated to avoid an outbreak of COVID-19 in the workplace. Others are of the view that the right of employees to make their own decisions about their own health and not to disclose their confidential information should be defended.
For example, Jerry Diaz, head of the union at a major Unifor company, explicitly advised employees to get vaccinated or find another job. Until employees are vaccinated, they will be put on unpaid leave.
"And if they don't get vaccinated within a reasonable period of time — well, fine," Diaz says. — They can work for another organization."
Diaz also shared in an interview that if their company fires an employee for refusing to vaccinate, the organization's lawyers should not be relied upon to help.
WestJet Airlines, which is based in Canada, has required workers to have both vaccinations by October 30. COVID-19 testing is not being accepted as an alternative. Ontario teachers' unions have also supported mandatory vaccination of school staff.
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