The Canadian Press
John Cotter
EDMONTON–A union in Alberta has negotiated domestic violence leave for members who work at a long-term care facility.
The United Steelworkers says the agreement means Rivercrest Care Centre workers who are victims of domestic violence can take paid leave for legal, medical, and counselling appointments without fear of losing their jobs.
Ray White, president of Local 1-207, said the contract language is a first for the union in Alberta and it plans to table similar proposals with other employers.
“The stigma attached to domestic violence is bad enough without having to go to your employer hat in hand begging for time off,” he said.
“We have it on three other contract tables right now and, as they become available, we will be putting the proposal forward at every place we bargain.”
Blair Halliday, chief operating officer of Qualicare Health Services Corp., said he initially was surprised when the union tabled the proposal for workers at the Fort Saskatchewan nursing home.
But after learning more about domestic violence, the company decided it was the right thing to do for the employees, who are mainly women.
Halliday said the benefits outweigh the cost–even in Alberta’s tough economy.
“We thought it was a reasonable thing to do,” Halliday said.
“It is for the well-being of our staff.”
Last year, Manitoba passed a law that allows workers who have been with the same employer for at least 90 days to take leave to seek medical attention for themselves or their children, to contact police or a lawyer, or to move to a safe place.
The Alberta Federation of Labour has been urging Alberta’s NDP government to follow Manitoba’s example.
The federation’s Siobhan Vipond said it is great that unions are negotiating domestic violence leave for their members, but the government needs to ensure all workers are protected.
“Unfortunately in our province, there is a high ratio of domestic violence and it gets higher in tough economic times,” she noted.
Ontario is considering a private member’s bill on domestic and sexual violence leave that was introduced last year by NDP women’s critic Peggy Sattler.
“It is terrific that unions are leading the way on this,” Sattler noted.
“However, the reality is that most employees in Canada are only covered by provincial employment standards legislation,” she added.
