1 10 22 https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/418beecbe1a3ea19eda3b560d08d8432.pdf 347eadb931a4bc155d38ff2d56fe851e PDF Text Text CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL SALES AGREEMENT #1685422 Inside ….. CIWA/ACVAMT Contacts ......................................................... 2 Provincial Reports ............................................................ 3, 4, 5 Harmonized GST/PST .............................................................. 6 Repetitive Strain Injury............................................................. 6 Prescription Painkillers .............................................................. 7 UN Convention – Rights of Persons with Disabilities .............. 7, 8 Chronic Pain .................................................................... 10, 11 CIWA, About ......................................................................... 12 ANNUAL EVENTS: National R.S.I Day Injured Workers Day Chronic Pain Awareness Week National Day of Mourning February 28 June 01 November April 28 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail P L E A SE HE L P … … … … S U B S C R I B E T O D A Y ! Name: ________________________________ Date: Organization: ________________________________ Address: ________________________________ ________________________________ Postal Code ________________________________ Phone ________________________________ Fax ________________________________ E-Mail ________________________________ Web Site ________________________________ ________________________________ Newsletter Subscription: Highlights is published 4 times per year Injured Worker/Unemployed $ 5.00 _________ Individuals $ 10.00 _________ Organizations $ 15.00 _________ Donations $ _________ Total $ _________ CIWA THANKS YOU for Your SUPPORT Editor’s Note This newsletter is distributed via email, fax, or mail to CIWA/ACVAMT members and groups with an interest in injured worker issues as resource tool to share and exchange information. The vi ews and opinions expressed here are those of the individuals or groups making submissions. We take no responsibility for their accuracy or for their opinions. You are welcome to share and distribute this newsletter with others that are interested. It is also available on our website at www.ciwa.ca. PROVINCIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF CIWA/ACVAMT VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS… EXECUTIVE OFFICERS… SK ... Robert Lindsay, Regina Western Injured Workers Society President ... Secretary … Treasurer … NS... Dave MacKenzie, Westville Pictou County PEI ... Leonard J. Crawford, Summerside ON ... Gerry Landry, Thunder Bay Ontario Network of Injured Worker Groups AB... Sherri Scott, Fort MacMurray NL... Clive Hamilton, Labrador City NB... Thomas Connolly, Mirimachi Rob Lindsay Leonard J. Crawford Dave MacKenzie ADVISORS… Vincent Boyce, Injured Worker, Manitoba Andy King, U.S.W.A. Lynn Shaw, University of Western Ontario Patti MacAhonic, BC Injured Workers and Survivors Education Association STAFF… Phil Brake, National Coordinator Monika Wiitala, Office Manager L’ALLIANCE CANADIENNE DES VICTIMES D’ACCIDENTS ET DE MALADIES DU TRAVAIL CANADIAN INJURED WORKERS ALLIANCE 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, Ontario. P7B 6R2 Phone: 807-345-3429 Fax: 807-344-8683 Page 2 email: ciwa@vianet.ca Toll Free: 1-877-787-7010 Web-site: www.ciwa.ca �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance PROVINCIAL REPORTS / UPDATES President’s Report: ONTARIO (Represented by G.Landry) CIWA and its Board members across Canada have been very busy over the last year. We’ve been in discussions with Labour Organization in Saskatchewan and Alberta trying to revive our Youth Project. We feel this is an important project as it stills seems that youth in the workplace are unaware of their rights and Occupational Health & Safety. Even with all the programs for youth out there, the abuse and neglect it still extremely evident and we want to be part of educating Canada’s youth on workplace rights and responsibilities of both the employer and themselves as the employee. We are seeking and very hopeful in attaining financial donations from Labour as well as any organizations that would like to see a specialized program for Youth in the Workplace. Lobbying to improve pensions has went well. 2.5% increase for 3 years We have also had the opportunity to voice our opinions on Workers Compensation issues across Canada, following three lengthy radio interviews. These were with Global Radio One in Saskatchewan, another from a station in Toronto, and another with a radio station in Toronto. These interviews came about after a hostile hostage taking incident in the WCB building in Calgary, Alberta that was broadcast nationwide. The Office of Disability Issues is conducting various teleconferences regarding technology for persons with disabilities and we are very excited to be part of these discussions. The president attended a meeting with the Canadian Pain Coalition in Toronto, in March of 2010. This meeting was part of a working group which is geared toward partnering and achieving CPC and CIWA goals and objectives. We are extremely excited to be part of this fantastic organization and look forward to a long partnership. We continue to receive many inquiries from injured workers across Canada regarding their WCB claims. We are able to refer them to injured worker groups and other like minded organizations that help injured workers with their claims. We do need to update our database as it seems that there are new groups popping up and others closing down that we are unaware of. If anyone has any information that we could update our database and website with, it would be greatly appreciated. New Bill passed – you must be a paralegal to represent injured workers before WSIB. We should lobby for full legal aid for injured workers. Dr. Lynn Shaw:  Client insights on knowledge - use and access in return to work  Opening doors to information for injured workers through knowledge exchange and research with consumer community groups  Evaluating the support needs of injured workers in managing occupational transitions after injury  Using metaphors to study occupational transitions  Knowledge to action - Advisory Board request for nominations went out; none were reviewed  The CIWA Board will assume this role. She will have two fact sheets ready for next meeting. New Brunswick How many services to injured workers have been discontinued at the Rehabilitation Centre based on erroneous information? Injured workers are being failed by a system that was intended to facilitate rehabilitation and return to work. Workers made great sacrifices, including giving up the right to sue our employers in exchange for this service. We are calling on Minister Arseneault to look very closely at the decision making process of the Worksafe New Brunswick Board of Directors. Is the rehabilitation of injured workers still a priority or is it another issue that is being driven at any costs? Michel Boudreau, NBFL President BC (Presented by Patti MacAhonic) The government of BC made changes to WCB that have saved the employers hundreds of millions of dollars which directly, negatively affect injured workers. Our next Board of Directors meeting will be held in Newfoundland in June or July sometime. Page 3 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail April 22, 2009, BC cont’d … A Report released today by the BC Federation of Labour shows that controversial changes made by the Campbell government to the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) have resulted in massive cost-savings for employers but has come at a profound cost to injured workers. "This Report shows the Campbell government's changes to WCB were based entirely on the false claim that the existing compensation system was unsustainable," says Jim Sinclair, President of the Federation. "Employers lobbied hard for these changes and they have been rewarded with huge cost-savings that have destroyed the lives of seriously injured workers." The most extreme consequences of the changes are the effective elimination of loss of earnings pensions and the virtual elimination of vocational rehabilitation services. This has had a negative economic impact on thousands of permanently injured workers and their families. "The loss of earnings pension is one of the most important benefits for a seriously injured worker," says Stan Guenther, one of the authors of the Report. "Without a pension and without the ability to work, an injured worker faces a lifetime of financial hardship." The changes made to the WCB pension system have also led to the virtual elimination of any need for vocational rehabilitation. As a result, the WCB's rehabilitation budget was slashed from $130 million in 2002 to just $3 million in 2006. "The loss of rehabilitation means the WCB has stopped providing the crucial assistance that injured workers need to return to the workplace and regain their ability to earn a living," said Janet Patterson, one of the authors of the Report. "Employers are saving hundreds of millions of dollars because seriously injured workers are being denied the compensation they need while disability claims and workplace fatalities continue to rise," Sinclair added. The Federation is calling on the provincial government to restore loss of earnings pensions, restore vocational rehabilitation services and implement the other recommendations made by the authors of the Report. To see the full Report and Summary, click here. Page 4 http://bcfed.ca/files/1520-09brInsult%20to%20Injury_1.pdf Patti has been searching for a suitable candidate to sit on the Board, but has been unsuccessful so far. SASK (Represented by Rob Lindsay) Western Injured Workers Society would like CIWA to become more involved as things are getting worse in the West. QUEBEC Visit – Info IRSST Newsletter at http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/en/InfoIrsst/Ac tuel/InfoIRSST_v08n01.htm To read or download the whole story: RESEARCH REPORT NOW AVAILABLE 4,4'-Diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) Safety practices and concentration during polyurethane foam spraying This study documented the practices relating to occupational health and safety (OHS) under a variety of conditions under which insulation work is done, and evaluated the MDI concentrations in the work areas. The workers run a risk of exposure to MDI in aerosol form, particularly when they do this work indoors. The report's authors note that nothing indicates that OHS practices are completely respected on Québec construction sites and recommend that the subject of respiratory and skin protection be integrated into the continuing training of workers. DOWNLOAD THE REPORT at: http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/R629.pdf MANITOBA Supreme Court absolves national union of liability for Giant Mine nine-fatality explosion In a long-awaited 9-0 decision, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that the CAW as a national union is not liable for the actions of Roger Warren, a local union member who deliberately set an underground explosion that killed nine gold miners in the midst of a bitter and violent strike at the Giant Mine in the Northwest Territories. The Court held that the national union was a distinct legal entity from the local union and was neither directly nor vicariously responsible for what occurred. �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Manitoba, cont’d … Upholding a 2008 decision by the Northwest Territories Court of Appeal that quashed a lower court judge's award of $10.7 million in damages, the Supreme Court also found no liability on the part of either the Northwest Territories government or the Pinkerton's security firm hired by the mining company to protect the miners who replaced the striking workers during the bitter dispute. The rest of this report is available at: http://www.lancasterhouse.com/ NOVA SCOTIA Injured civilian workers also battling government red tape Letter to The Annapolis County Spectator Article online since November 25th 2009, 19:57 Dear Editor: Mrs. Dornan stated ('Military families battling red tape,' Spectator, November 19): ―If civilians are injured on the job, they can expect to receive assistance from Workers Compensation,‖ she said. ―But we have to prove everything, starting from the fact that he served in Bosnia, to establishing a conclusive cause of his illness.‖ That is far from the truth. We as injured workers have received the same treatments by those that are meant to help us, namely WCB and our government. We have our rights and freedoms removed from us via government that allows for the WCB to lobby them for changes made to legislation that enable this illegal act. Here in Canada we had a protest planned for December 10, 2009 as that is United Nations Human Rights Day, to take place at war memorials and monuments across Canada. We were told NO by the Royal Canadian Legion, even though those who sacrificed their lives to ensure our rights and freedoms, it was considered to be a disgraceful act upon us. They can fight for our rights and freedoms, but we are not allowed to have their support, for fighting for the same cause. Also here is a link to the United Nations Human Rights Violations that we as injured workers are experiencing: abusebyalbertasworkerscompensation.blogspot.com Sincerely, Ken Markkula Bruce, AB Website Links – Information Resources Injured Workers Online http://www.injuredworkersonline.org/  Facing poverty: how does Ontario's new strategy meet the needs of injured workers? Poverty and suffering is too often the result of workplace injuries or diseases that affect approximately 300,000 workers and their families in Ontario.  Find local support groups and join the Ontario Network of Injured Workers' Groups (ONIWG) to help make a difference.  Ontario's injured worker movement has a long and proud history. Read about it in the Injured Workers' History Project bulletins!  Check on current worker-centred research projects and training.  Understand your legal rights and access community legal information (CLEOnet updates) injuredworkersonline.org is a collaborative effort of injured workers, trade unionists, community activists and advocates, and doctors. We seek better treatment for injured workers by their employers, government and workers' compensation system.  Learn more about the key issues and what's happening at Queen's Park to review and reform workers' compensation law. Page 5 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail NEW HARMONIZED GST/PST In July (2010) the ONTARIO Government is set to put into force its new harmonized GST/PST sales tax which will apply a 13% sales tax to everything we purchase. Things That Were Not Subject To The Current 8% PST Will Be Now Taxed at 8%. - The new 13% tax will therefore apply to things like your electric bill, your gas bill, your water bill, condominium fees, insurance premiums, and every other good and service you purchase.. There are almost no exemptions. - The current Ontario PST tax does not apply to services, nor does it apply to the purchase of certain goods. The New 13% Tax will also apply to the purchase of All New Homes - If a person were to purchase a new $1 million dollar home in Toronto, they would have to pay roughly $200,000 in taxes as a result of the Ontario land transfer tax, the new city of Toronto land transfer tax, and the new harmonized 13% GST/PST. - The extension of the new 13% GST/PST to homes is simply a tax assault by the government on your primary home. They want to tax your primary home and you will suffer because of it. The New 13% Tax Will Effectively Raise Your Income Taxes Currently, the combined Federal/Ontario income tax rates are roughly 25% on the first $20,000 of taxable income, 42% on the next $40,000 of taxable income, and 46.5% on each dollar of taxable income over $60,000. On top of that you have to add the "Fair Share Health Tax" of up to $1,000 each of us has to pay. If the Ontario Government gets away with implementing their new harmonized GST/PST sales tax of 13%, the top effective income tax rates in Ontario will be as follows (since you can't spend any of your tax paid dollars without paying the new harmonized 13% GST/PST tax): 38% on the first $20,000 53% on the next $40,000 59.5% on every dollar over $60,000 On top of that, you have to pay your Ontario Fair Share Health Tax, your city realty taxes, your city garbage fees, your city water fees, your city street parking permit fees, your annual Ontario and new city of Toronto vehicle license plate fees, your Ontario land transfer tax, your new city of Toronto land transfer tax, your gasoline taxes, your liquor taxes, your air departure taxes, your entertainment taxes, and so on. Of all the money you worked hard to earn, what percentage are you really keeping for your own use? 25%? 20%? 10%? TAKE THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY - FILL AND SIGN THE PETITION AT www.unfairtaxgrab.com AGAINST THE NEW HARMONIZED GST/PST TAX. Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day - February 29 The Canadian Labour Congress calls on all levels of government to take the issue of Repetitive Strain Injury more seriously. Ergonomic regulations to protect Canadian workers from coast-to-coast-to-coast are long over due, as is proper enforcement of regulations where they currently exist. This call for government action is supported by a Statistics Canada report going back to 2003, indicating that one out of every 10 Canadian adults had a repetitive strain injury (RSI) serious enough to limit their normal activities. In terms of lost work time and reduced productivity, the cost of RSI to the economy demands action. Among federal government workers alone, between 11,000 and 17,000 RSI claims are filed each year. The Page 6 total work days lost each year are estimated between 45,000 and 73,000. The estimated cost: between $24 and $40 million. Broader studies, using a societal approach (regardless of payer) have placed the total cost of RSIs at $26.6 billion, or about 3.4% of the gross domestic product. Workers in sales or service, trades, transport or equipment operating, farming, forestry, fishing or mining, and processing/manufacturing or utilities are at high risks of reporting an RSI. Women’s jobs, especially office jobs and micro assembly work, often involve a high risk for RSI which may explain why generally, more women reported a new RSI to worker’s compensation boards. �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Repetitive strain injury creates significant personal and economic burden for workers and also has a major impact on health care costs, since many of these injuries are not reported to worker’s compensation boards. Today, we have regulations in some provinces and, federally, ergonomics have been incorporated in the Hazard Prevention Regulations. While this is a victory, there is still much to be done to ensure enforcement of these regulations. Work stress deriving from a fast work pace, role ambiguity, worry and monotonous tasks have been associated with RSIs in the past. The Statistics Canada report supports the association between work stress and RSIs. We call on the federal government to ensure that the ergonomic regulations which were recently incorporated in the federal Hazard Prevention Regulations, be enforced. In 2000, amendments to the Canada Labour Code Part II included the prescription of ergonomics standards in the federal jurisdiction. In 2002, union representatives started to work with government representatives in order to develop regulations on ergonomics. We also call on the government to provide proper training to federal workplace inspectors so that ergonomic hazards are identified and eliminated wherever possible. We call on provincial and territorial governments to introduce ergonomic regulations if they have not yet done so. Deadlier than Cocaine, Heroin, and the Swine Flu? Posted by Dr. Mercola | November 21 2009 | Addiction to prescription painkillers — which kill thousands of Americans a year — has become a largely unrecognized epidemic, experts say. In fact, prescription drugs cause most of the more than 26,000 fatal overdoses each year, says Leonard Paulozzi of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of overdose deaths from opioid painkillers — opium-like drugs that include morphine and codeine — more than tripled from 1999 to 2006, to 13,800 deaths that year, according to recently released CDC statistics. In the past, most overdoses were due to illegal narcotics, such as heroin, with most deaths in big cities. Prescription painkillers have now surpassed heroin and cocaine however, as the leading cause of fatal overdoses, Paulozzi says. Experts say it's easy to see why so many Americans are abusing painkillers. As Americans age and carry extra pounds, more are asking for pain relief to cope with joint problems, back pain and other ailments. Sources: USA Today October 2, 2009 Orthomolecular.org October 27, 2009 Daily Mail August 11, 2009 Canada Ratifies UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (No. 99 - March 11, 2010 - 11:15 a.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of “Canada is committed to promoting and protecting the Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Diane Finley, rights of persons with disabilities and enabling their full Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, participation in society,” said Minister Cannon. today announced that, with the support of all provinces “Ratification of this convention underscores the and territories, the Government of Canada has ratified Government of Canada’s strong commitment to this the Convention on the Rights of Persons with goal.” Disabilities at United Nations headquarters in New York City. “Canada is proud to have been one of the first countries to originally sign the Convention in 2007,” Page 7 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail said Minister Finley. “The ratification of this agreement is just further acknowledgement that Canada is a world leader in providing persons with disabilities the same opportunities in life as all Canadians.” “Today is a momentous day for Canadians with disabilities and their families,” said Bendina Miller, President of the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL). “CACL is thrilled that Canada has ratified the Convention. Canada has been an international leader on disability and human rights, and through ratification can continue to play this important role. CACL looks forward to working with the Government of Canada on implementing and monitoring compliance with the Convention.” “The Government of Canada’s ratification today of the Convention is a historic event for Canadians with disabilities,” said Marie White, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities. “It signals the end of an era where people with disabilities were seen as objects of charity. Ratification of the Convention makes real our goal of recognition as full and equal citizens of Canada. “Ratification of the Convention puts an end to the medical model and opens exciting new opportunities for building a more inclusive and accessible Canada. Canadians with disabilities applaud the Government of Canada for this historic action.” “As the Government of Canada continues to play a leading role with respect to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in sport, we wish our paralympic athletes the best of luck at the upcoming Paralympic Games in Vancouver,” said Minister Cannon. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international human rights instrument of the United Nations intended to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. Parties to the Convention are required to promote, protect and ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities, and to ensure that they enjoy full equality under the law. There are approximately 4.4 million persons with disabilities in Canada—about 14.3 percent of the population. - 30 – For further information, media representatives may contact: Catherine Loubier Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs 613-995-1851 Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada 613-995-1874 Michelle Bakos Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development 819-994-2482 Media Relations Office Human Resources and Skills Development Canada 819-994-5559 Backgrounder - UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on December 13, 2006, after several years of negotiation in which Canada took an active role. Canada was among the first countries to sign the Convention when it was opened for signature on March 30, 2007. The purpose of the Convention is “to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.” It reaffirms for persons with disabilities existing civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights set out in international law. The Convention’s core obligations relate to nondiscrimination and reasonable accommodation. These core obligations are then elaborated in specific provisions that address such issues as freedom of Page 8 expression, political rights, liberty and security of the person, legal capacity, education, health and employment. The Convention also contains provisions on issues unique to people with disabilities, such as accessibility, independent living and inclusion in the community, as well as the processes of rehabilitation and habilitation, through which those with disabilities learn to function fully in society. The Government of Canada consulted provincial and territorial governments throughout the Convention’s negotiation, signature and ratification processes. The Canadian government also consulted civil society through a national round table with stakeholders, and an online consultation open to the public. It also sought the views of self-governing Aboriginal groups on how ratification of the Convention might affect their communities. �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Mourning Day Act http://www.ccohs.ca/events/mourning/act.html S.C. 1991, c. 15 An Act respecting a Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace [Assented to 1st February, 1991] WHEREAS it is desirable that Canadians should designate a day of mourning to remember workers killed, disabled or injured in the workplace and workers afflicted with industrial disease; AND WHEREAS Canadians seek earnestly to set an example of their commitment to the issue of health and safety in the workplace; NOW, THEREFORE, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows Short title 1. This Act may be cited as the Workers Mourning Day Act. Day of Mourning 2. (1) Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the 28th day of April shall be known under the name of "Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace". (2) For greater certainty, the Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace is not a legal holiday or a non-juridical day and shall not be required to be kept or observed as such. National Day of Mourning, April 28, 2010 - CLC Statement Posted: Thursday, 15 April 2010 Is today the day you die at work? http://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/national-day-mourning-april-28-2010-clc-statement Over the past twenty-five years, successive governments have pledged their support to workers and their unions. They announced new workplace health and safety laws and regulations - some of the best in the world. Unfortunately, they have failed to provide the resources needed to enforce those new laws. Over the last twenty-five years, the number of Canadians who die every year because of something that happened to them at work has been steadily growing. We know that hundreds more deaths occur due to exposures to carcinogens and toxins in the workplace, but they are never identified or accepted as work-related by Workers’ Compensation Boards. The slogan for the CLC National Day of Mourning, ―Is today the day you die at work?‖ asks, why is it that so many Canadians unjustly lose their life? Sadly, for 2008, the most recent year for which we have statistics, 1,036 Canadians lost their lives because of their work. This is the reason why Canada’s workplaces claim a growing number of lives every year; the laws are not enforced, so reckless employers are allowed to carry on without consequence. It’s time for the federal government and the provincial and territorial governments to appoint special prosecutors to lay charges under the Criminal Code against employers when their actions cause death or serious injury. More inspectors must be hired to ensure employers comply with the law. Government regulators must be held accountable for this carnage that seems to go unchecked. As we take time today, April 28th, to remember those who have lost their lives, been injured or became ill, due to their work, I ask you to do more than reflect on the importance of health and safety, I ask you to think of those who are closest to you, your child, your spouse, your sibling, your parent, your best friend. Consider the role they play in your life and your family’s lives. Imagine if their life was taken from them. Every single one of those 1,036 lives that ended in 2008 had dreams, had a mom and had people who loved and continue to love and miss them. In Solidarity, Ken Georgetti, President Page 9 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Ontario: Correen DiFlorio (IWC)" <DifloriC@lao.on.ca> On Christmas Eve 2009, four workers were killed and one seriously injured when a construction swing stage snapped in half and plummeted 13 storeys to the ground. Another 400 Ontario workers were killed the same year and about 374,000 were injured. On Wednesday, April, 28th join the Toronto and York Region Labour Council as we remember our sisters and brothers who have been killed on the job or who have died as a result of workplace diseases. This special day also offers an opportunity to rededicate our efforts to achieve healthier and safer workplaces and seek justice and fair compensation for injured workers. Toronto Location: Nathan Philips Square, 100 Queen Street West Date: Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 at 12:00 Noon For more information contact the Toronto and York Region Labour Council at: 416-441-3663 or Enzo Mancuso @ 416-522-2386 New Brunswick http://www.gnb.ca/cnb/news/wcs/2010e0160wc.htm New Brunswick will soon have a seventh Day of Mourning monument, which will be erected at the entrance to the Hatheway Labour Exhibit Centre (Lily Lake Pavilion) in Rockwood Park in Saint John. The mock-up was unveiled at a ceremony in October 2009. The monument will take over a year to complete, and the official unveiling is planned for the Day of Mourning commemorative ceremonies on April 28, 2011. For further information on the Day of Mourning monuments and other labour landmarks in New Brunswick, visit the Labour History in New Brunswick website. http://www.lhtnb.ca/ 10/02/05 MEDIA CONTACTS: Elizabeth Joubert, communications, Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport, 506-457-6445; Nicole Lang, Université de Moncton, Edmundston campus, 506-737-5191 Chronic Pain Visit the Canadian Pain Coalition website for more information: http://www.canadianpaincoalition.ca/index.php/en/help-centre/conquering-pain/stress-pain Is There a Connection Between Pain, Stress and Depression? What Can I Do Myself to Lower Stress? Page 10 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Chronic pain disrupts your life, lessens your ability to handle stress, weakens your immune system, and can result in anxiety, anger, and depression. Depression is one of the most common problems experienced by people with chronic pain. If pain results in a loss of independence or mobility that decreases an individual’s participation in social activities, the risk of depression significantly increases. If you suspect that you may be depressed, it is very important that you discuss this with your doctor. Your brain can send signals to your body that can affect the way you experience pain. These signals use chemicals similar to morphine (called endorphins) that naturally occur in your body. Relaxation exercises with visual imagery can help you take advantage of these endorphins to cope with your pain and the stress it causes. Here are the steps to follow:        See our website for a downloadable video. Sit in a comfortable position in a quiet room. Take three deep breaths. Feel the air rush in through your nose when you inhale, and then blow the air out as you exhale. Listen to the sound this makes. Think of a place where you felt really safe and in control of your pain. It could be the beach where you spent your last vacation or sitting by the window in your home, for example. Picture yourself there now. Imagine what it feels like to sit in that favourite spot, with the wind through your hair or the warm sun on your face. Keep taking deep breaths. Now turn your attention to your body. Pay attention to your pain. What colour is it? Is it a sharp, bright orange? A dark, cloudy grey colour? Picture where that colour is on your body. Now as you take slow breaths, feel how you can control that colour. See it slowly getting lighter and lighter with each breath. Feel the pain flow out little by little as you exhale. See     how the colour shrinks down to a smaller size as you breathe in and out. Imagine that the parts of your body that are in the least pain are spreading decreasing the intensity of your pain. Picture yourself in control of your pain, right here in your safe place. Take a few more deep breaths, feeling the air rush in through your nose when you inhale and the air blowing out as you exhale. Picture that light, soft colour that lets you know you are in control of your pain. Stay there in that safe spot for a while, listening to your breath, or open your eyes when you feel ready. You can repeat this exercise several times a day if you need to. It may be helpful to have someone read it to you. Try it when you can feel your pain starting up. Don’t wait until your pain gets severe. This exercise is one of the tools you can use to stay in control of your pain. The exercise becomes more powerful the more you practice it. Don’t give up if you do not get results the first few times. Relaxation with music. You can turn listening to music into a relaxation exercise. Use music that makes you feel good. Some people prefer music with no lyrics for these exercises. Others enjoy recordings of nature sounds. Find a quiet room and make yourself comfortable. Take three deep breaths. Feel the air rush in through your nose when you inhale, and then blow the air out as you exhale. Put on your stereo or your headphones and listen to your chosen music. You can close your eyes if you like. Try to concentrate on the music itself and block out other thoughts you are having. You can stay like this for twenty minutes if you like, and you can make this another tool that you use daily to stay in control of your pain. Page 11 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Our Goals CIWA/ACVAMT Is about  Support We are a national network of injured worker's groups (IWG's) and we exist to strengthen and support the work of local and provincial IWG's across Canada. Independence We believe that injured workers should be in control of their own destinies & Injured Workers Groups must be democratically controlled by injured workers. Partnerships We believe that we can best assist these objectives by providing training and educational resources in partnership with provincial or territorial organizations of injured workers and the trade union movement at all levels. Information Sharing We believe that by sharing our stories and our experience we can learn from each other and become better educated and exert more control over our lives. To work towards a just system of compensation, rehabilitation and reemployment in all of Canada.  To provide a national forum for debating issues concerning injured workers at national conferences and board workshops.  To gather and share information with groups across Canada.  To improve the Occupational Health & Safety of workers across Canada.  To identify and make available, educational and training resources produced by the union movement and other agencies, that focus on organizing and maintaining effective injured worker groups.  To enhance the local base of the injured workers movement through all our activities.  To form partnerships that will achieve common goals. Publications Available  The VOICE OF INJURED WORKER  PLAIN TALK  HOW TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN INJURED WORKERS & ORGANIZED LABOUR  REPORT ON RELATIONS WITH LABOUR SESSION AT CIWA NATIONAL CONFERENCE, REGINA 1992  RETURNING TO WORK  VOC REHAB & RE-EMPLOYMENT FROM THE INJURED WORKER'S PERSPECTIVE  INJURED WORKERS … ON THE MOVE  COMING TOGETHER VIDEOS & WORKBOOKS  YOUTH PROJECT MANUAL, 2002  SURVIVORS, 1997  TOGETHER WE CAN WIN, 1997  PEER HELPER TRAINING MANUAL, 2000 - "PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE"  LE COMBAT QUOTIDIEN DES VICTIMES DU TRAVAIL, 1999 To find out more, please contact us at: CIWA/ACVAMT 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6R2 Ph: 807-345-3429/Fx: 807-344-8683 Toll Free: 1-877-787-7010 Email: ciwa@vianet.ca Web Site: www.ciwa.ca Connect with an injured workers group near you. Check out our web site at: www.ciwa.ca  OR  Call our office at (807) 345-3429 or Toll Free at 1-877-787-7010 This Newsletter is intended to share information of interest to injured workers/ groups / organizations, union activists and their supporters. It provides a forum for sharing our experiences - so we can learn from each other - in order to improve the lives of injured and disabled workers and the system that is there to assist them. Please help - by sharing your story with us. Page 12 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CIWA Highlights Newsletter 2010 Description An account of the resource News updates from each province in regards to injured worker's rights. Articles about harmonized GST/PST tax, Repetitive Strain Injuries and Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day, the rise of opioid addiction, Canada's ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, National Day Of Mourning work-related deaths, managing chronic pain with relaxation and meditation. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource CIWA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Subject The topic of the resource Labour Unions https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/b841033863827120bc58bd2c06b15814.pdf ffc2d772acde14816af3f97d424091c3 PDF Text Text CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL SALES AGREEMENT #1685422 Inside ….. CIWA/ACVAMT Contacts ......................................................... 2 ON – Medical Marijuana ........................................................... 3 QC – Chronic Pain ................................................................ 3, 4 NL – Day of Mourning ............................................................. 5 Web Site Links ......................................................................... 6 Provincial Rate Comparisons .................................................... 6 Pain Explained Campaign ........................................................ 8 CIWA Guest Editorial .................................................... 9, 10, 11 CIWA, About ......................................................................... 12 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail P L E A SE HE L P … … … … S U B S C R I B E T O D A Y ! Name: ________________________________ Date: Organization: ________________________________ Address: ________________________________ ________________________________ Postal Code ________________________________ Phone ________________________________ Fax ________________________________ E-Mail ________________________________ Web Site ________________________________ ________________________________ Newsletter Subscription: Highlights is published 4 times per year Injured Worker/Unemployed $ 5.00 _________ Individuals $ 10.00 _________ Organizations $ 15.00 _________ Donations $ _________ Total $ _________ CIWA THANKS YOU for Your SUPPORT Editor’s Note This newsletter is distributed via email, fax, or mail to CIWA/ACVAMT me mbers and groups with an interest in injured worker issues as resource tool to share and exchange information. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the individuals or groups making submissions. We take no responsibility for their accuracy o r for their opinions. You are welcome to share and distribute this newsletter with others that are interested. It is also available on our website at www.ciwa.ca. PROVINCIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF CIWA/ACVAMT VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS… EXECUTIVE OFFICERS… SK ... Robert Lindsay, Regina Western Injured Workers Society President ... Secretary … Treasurer … NS... Dave MacKenzie, Westville Pictou County PEI ... Leonard J. Crawford, Summerside ON ... Gerry Landry, Thunder Bay Ontario Network of Injured Worker Groups AB... Sherri Scott, Fort MacMurray NL... Clive Hamilton, Labrador City Rob Lindsay Leonard J. Crawford Dave MacKenzie ADVISORS… Vincent Boyce, Injured Worker, Manitoba Andy King, U.S.W.A. Lynn Shaw, University of Western Ontario Patti MacAhonic, BC Injured Workers and Survivors Education Association STAFF… Phil Brake, National Coordinator Monika Wiitala, Office Manager L’ALLIANCE CANADIENNE DES VICTIMES D’ACCIDENTS ET DE MALADIES DU TRAVAIL CANADIAN INJURED WORKERS ALLIANCE 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, Ontario. P7B 6R2 Phone: 807-345-3429 Fax: 807-344-8683 Page 2 email: ciwa@vianet.ca Toll Free: 1-877-787-7010 Web-site: www.ciwa.ca �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance PROVINCIAL NEWS / UPDATES ONTARIO Medical marijuana covered by WSIB The Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal has recently allowed that medical marijuana is covered by the compensation system. The injured worker must have a Health Canada card authorizing possession. The payment will be made regardless of where the marijuana is purchased and thus without the need for receipts. It will be paid for the amount indicated by Health Canada, and it will be paid at the rate that Health Canada charges. The decision can be found on the WSIAT website where all decisions are published. It is number 2335 06R dated July 8th, 2008. The neutral citation is 2008 ONWSIAT 1890. Marion Endicott WSIB loses $3.34B as stocks fall Aug 18, 2009 04:30 AM STAR STAFF WIRE SERVICES http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/682439 Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board says it lost $3.34 billion last year as payments to injured workers rose while stock markets fell. The massive setback came on the heels of a $2 billion loss in 2007. The WSIB collects premiums from employers and provides benefits to more than 155,000 injured workers. Its latest annual report says the board took in $2.4 billion less in 2008 than it paid out in benefits and other expenses. The shortfall was more than double the $1.13 billion reported a year earlier. The board has a reserve fund to help pay future benefits. But two-thirds was invested in stocks, which took heavy losses in 2008. Back-to-back losses have slashed the size of that reserve fund to about $10.4 billion, leaving it about $11.4 billion short of what is estimated could be required. The WSIB says the shortfall will not threaten its ability to provide benefits to workers. Ontario passed legislation in 2007 providing for a 2.5 per cent increase in benefits that year, and the two following years. WSIB may now have to consider increasing premiums to employers at a time when many are struggling. Workplace insurance board loses $3B Posted By JONATHAN JENKINS, SUN MEDIA, August 20, 2009 http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1706229 The Workplace Safety Insurance Board lost about $3 billion on the markets last year, but the massive loss won't mean higher premiums, the board's head vows. "We're very solvent, we're very stable," Steve Mahoney said Tuesday. "This is not a loss of our ability to meet our obligations." The market turmoil of last fall hit the WSIB's insurance fund hard, its value falling 15.5 per cent. Combined with other factors -- including a $104 million drop in premiums from job losses, the board's overall unfunded liability has soared to $11.4 billion. The liability was less than $6 billion just two years ago. But Mahoney said the unfunded liability is a long-term problem that doesn't affect its ability to deliver benefits to injured workers now. Premiums haven't risen on average in the past three years and Mahoney said only 36,000 companies out of 238,000 the board insures are seeing an increase in 2010 -- and that's because those companies have a poor safety record. Page 3 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail "The reason the companies whose premiums are frozen are achieving that is because they have an excellent record on safety." Benefits paid to injured workers are set by the government and the WSIB can't change them, he pointed out. Still, the investment loss and the prospect of gh unemployment driving premium revenue down mean the board is reviewing its investment strategy and some heads have rolled. "If you perform poorly, you get fired. That's absolutely the case," Mahoney said of investment counsellors and advisers. The huge setback shows there's serious problems at the WSIB, New Democrat labour critic Paul Miller said. "This is mismanagement," Miller said. "It's really a mishmash the way they run things. "The amounts that they're losing -- I would not consider that to be a conservative portfolio. There has to be more accountability on the finances. Are they not managing the portfolios properly? Are they not monitoring? Are they taking to much risk?" And given the magnitude of the drop, Miller said he doubts Mahoney can keep premiums where they are for long. "They say no and I don't believe that," he said. "The only way they're going to recoup their losses would be to increase premiums." QUEBEC – Info IRSST Newsletter Very interesting information can be found at their website: http://www.irsst.qc.ca:80/files/documents/en/InfoIrsst/Actuel/InfoIRSST_v06n02.htm PREVENTION GUIDE The English version of a prevention guide has been published by the IRSST and Groupe-conseil AON. In addition to offering different practical advice, this document proposes solution scenarios that are easy to implement for better prevention of handling-related accidents and the associated back pain. CHRONIC PAIN RESEARCH AND TREATMENT IN QUEBEC GETS $4.35-MILLION BOOST FROM PFIZER, ASTRAZENECA, MSSS AND FRSQ Unique public-private partnership in Quebec‟s pain research and treatment networks will provide better tools to research, diagnose and treat chronic pain. February 28, 2008 Two of Canada‟s leading pharmaceutical companies are joining forces with the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ) and Quebec‟s Health and Social Services Ministry (MSSS) to help in the battle against chronic pain and give a boost to Quebec‟s pain researchers and clinics affiliated with Quebec‟s four medical-research universities. The partnership – a first in Canada – is designed to strengthen what is already the country‟s leading pain research and treatment network, the Quebec Pain Research Network (QPRN), which links pain clinics at Quebec‟s four university-hospital networks and more than 75 doctors and researchers specialized in chronic pain. Under the partnership, Pfizer Canada, AstraZeneca, the FRSQ and MSSS will provide $4.35 million over Joint battle against chronic pain “The battle against chronic pain is really a collective effort uniting researchers in the public and private sectors, front-line medical professionals and patients themselves,” said Alain Beaudet, President and CEO of the FRSQ. In leading the partnership, the FRSQ‟s goal Page 4 four years to fund research and education that will improve our understanding of chronic pain and help doctors diagnose and treat pain more effectively. “Chronic pain is a devastating and debilitating silent epidemic and we need better knowledge and treatments for doctors and patients,” said Dr. Yves de Koninck, Scientific Director of the QPRN and professor affiliated with Laval University and the university‟s Centre de recherche Université Laval Robert-Giffard. “More than a million Quebecers – about one in five – will suffer from chronic pain during their lifetime. The economic costs alone in health care and loss of productivity are staggering – an estimated $125 billion a year in the US.” is to support Quebec‟s pain research, particularly to advance understanding of prevalence, incidence and the natural course of different pain syndromes, and to ensure that this knowledge is transferred to the clinic to benefit patients. �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance “This initiative takes us to the next level by bringing our research knowledge and excellence onto the frontlines to help doctors and patients manage pain more effectively,” Beaudet said. The QPRN groups researchers and doctors at Université de Montréal, Université de Sherbrooke, Université Laval and McGill University, as well as their teaching hospitals, government organizations and the Association Québécoise de la douleur chronique, Quebec‟s leading patient group. Quebec a world leader in pain research “At AstraZeneca, we established our analgesia drug discovery laboratories in Montreal in large part because Quebec is a renowned world leader in pain research excellence,” said Dr. Philippe Walker, VicePresident Discovery, and head of AstraZeneca‟s research laboratories in Montreal, where more than 100 scientists and chronic-pain experts work on developing better medicines to treat and manage pain. “This is a unique partnership and opportunity for us to work together to gain better insight into the causes of chronic pain and how to manage pain more effectively for the benefit of patients.” “Pfizer is a leader in the research of innovative solutions for pain management, including the development of unique compounds which are breaking scientific ground and discovering novel ways to treat chronic pain," says Dr. Bernard Prigent, Vice-President and Medical Director, Pfizer Canada. "Pfizer is proud to join this partnership as the QPRN initiative is a unique model which could streamline research efforts aiming “The Quebec government is pleased to partner with the FRSQ to establish this important chronic pain research initiative. This investment will enable the QPRN to structure clinical research, facilitate the transfer of discoveries and practical knowledge to medical professionals and improve the treatment of chronic pain sufferers. The QPRN‟s activities are among the most pertinent and essential in improving the quality of life for the 20% of Quebecers who suffer from pain at some point in their lives,” said Philippe Couillard, Minister of Health and Social Services. to improve diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain. The transfer of these research findings to healthcare professionals in hospital, clinic settings and research organizations such as Pfizer, will be key in our collective capacity to develop better treatment options for people living with chronic pain.” The partnership investment is $4.35 million over four years. The FRSQ has committed $2 million over four years, Pfizer Canada $1.2 million over four years, AstraZeneca $750,000 over three years, and MSSS $400,000 over four years. Pfizer and AstraZeneca have research facilities around the world and are both major investors in R&D in Canada, with Pfizer investing about $190 million a year and AstraZeneca more than $100 million a year. As the health-research funding arm of the Quebec Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, the FRSQ invests about $90 million a year in health research and education in Quebec. Pain facts:  Chronic pain strikes one in five adults - 1.2 million Quebecers will suffer from chronic pain during their lifetime. Among the elderly, the proportion rises to 50 percent.  Women are more at risk of developing chronic pain than men.  People with chronic pain have been suffering on average for 7 years.  Nearly half (47%) say their pain is not under control.  Chronic pain adversely affects quality of life, both in terms of emotional well-being and ability to function normally. For more information please contact: For more information, or to arrange interviews with leading pain experts in Montreal, Sherbrooke and Quebec City, please contact: Michelle Dubuc, FRSQ, (514) 873-2114 Ext. 235 Sylvie Tessier, Pfizer Canada Inc., (514) 693-4609 Jennifer Robinson, AstraZeneca R&D, (514) 518-3505 Isabelle Merizzi, Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS), (418) 266-7171 These press releases were issued in Canada and are intended as reference information for Canadians. The information contained in each press release was accurate at the time of issuance, and Pfizer Canada assumes no responsibility for updating the information to reflect subsequent developments. Page 5 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail NEWFOUNDLAND April 28-Day of Mourning Hello Fellow Injured Workers and Concerned Citizens, April 28 is International Day of Mourning for Injured and Dead Workers. I mourn today for three men from Newfoundland and Labrador. Neil Lockyer, Jason House, and myself. Neil was injured in B.C. with a head injury in 1989. Jason fell through a roof in Alberta in 2005 suffering multiple injuries including his skull cracked in three places, both shoulders, right hip and pelvis broken, two disks and a broken vertebra, in 2005. I was involved in a railway accident in Ontario in 1979 suffering a crushed ankle, shattered shoulder, broken arm, broken collar bone, post concussion syndrome, three herniated disks, and more. All of us permanently disabled from our employment. From three different Provinces we came home to lick our wounds. Family and friends our only comfort. But they followed and watched like vultures on a perch. Waiting. "Did he walk?" "I saw him today and he smiled so he must be okay?" They report back to Ontario and B.C. and Alberta. The checks stop. The appeals begin, and always under the microscope. Forced to relive all the events since the accident and justifying what does not need justifying. Forced to live off family and welfare, demeaned, belittled, slandered, maligned, and otherwise abused. Forced to stay in a merry go round of abuse. Poor Neil. His injured brain could not take it. He killed a man. A WCB spy he thought. Stabbed him nineteen Times in his daughters kitchen. She tried to get help. Said her Father needed help because he was believing WCB spies were after him to cut him off. How many times between 1989 and 2005 was he cut off? How many spies did he really see? But he was paranoid because of his brain injury they said, before they locked him away in the Waterford Psychiatric Hospital. Not even a look at factors that might involve the WCB in B.C. Labour federation has questions Published Wednesday August 5th, 2009 Page 6 I watch, and protest , and try to get in court to help him but no one listens to me. They think I am mad. Then comes along Jason. He lost a $300,00.00 home, a mustang, a truck, a motorbike, a framing business, and lost it all in three years. WCB spies, posing as hunters, followed him to Newfoundland one year after his accident. They videotaped him walking with a cane and getting into his fathers truck. They declared him fit for work and cut him off. He has since appealed and won a partial victory. But at what cost? Will he, in another two, five or ten years, be cut off again, hounded again? How many times? Then there is me. I don't care if they look. I will do as much as my body can do, no more, no less. But me they ignore. 1979 to present. Ignore me to the point I have no doctor or medical care. How many videos of me do they show behind closed doors to "prove" I am not disabled? I grieve for Mr. Lockyer whose life has been ruined and for his distraught daughter who could find no help. I grieve for Mr. House because I know the road he is now forced to travel. I grieve for me because everyone thinks I am crazy and a welfare bum. I am so helpless to help them or myself. Decades apart but yet the same mistreatment. I wonder how many more suicides and murders it will take for everyone to wake up and demand fundamental change? So today mourn not only the injured and dead, mourn for the abused too. Best Regards, Fred Palmer �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance http://miramichileader.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/751885 Letter to the editor The New Brunswick Federation of Labour is calling on Minister Donald Arseneault to immediately conduct an internal enquiry into the governance of Worksafe New Brunswick. Discrepancies in the information given to Board members has rendered an internal enquiry crucial for all injured workers in New Brunswick. Our representative on the Board of Directors of Worksafe New Brunswick found out that the board has been making decisions based on misleading and non-factual information." In mid-June the Corporate Board were presented with a plan, by CEO Doug Stanley to discontinue operations of the therapeutic pool at the Workers Rehabilitation Centre in Grand Bay-Westfield. Concerns surrounding this plan were raised and information provided to the Board were that only the staff uses the pool, almost no injured workers and the cost to operate the pool were $238,000 per year. Since then, our Labour representative has learned that, in fact, there were up to 16 injured workers per week using the therapeutic pool and the cost to operate was in fact $160,000 per year. Only yesterday at a Corporate Board Meeting, Mr. Stanley informed members that the heat had been shut off for three weeks, when in fact it was only turned off that day. Furthermore, injured workers were using it for therapeutic rehabilitation. How many services to injured workers have been discontinued at the Rehabilitation Centre based on erroneous information? Injured workers are being failed by a system that was intended to facilitate rehabilitation and return to work. Workers made great sacrifices, including giving up the right to sue our employers in exchange for this service. We are calling on Minister Arseneault to look very closely at the decision making process of the Worksafe New Brunswick Board of Directors. Is the rehabilitation of injured workers still a priority or is it another issue that is being driven at any costs? Michel Boudreau, NBFL President Do you know what happens when you get injured at work? Find out here. www.ciws.ca and www.wcbcanada.com Page 7 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Worker’s compensation doesn’t work Email Print Letter to Editor Share Text Published: August 11, 2009 11:00 PM 0 Comments The recently minted MLA’s of the province of British Columbia are an expensive commodity. An enlarged body of governing brilliance naturally expected to achieve profound goals. Time is money, and the talents of so few, to which we are all beholding, should not be wasted in frivolous pursuits. This leads one to ask the question: Why is it that over sixty percent of all MLAs’ time spent in his riding is deployed in conflict resolution with WCB, or Work Safe BC. This alarming fact was confirmed by Rich Colman, then Solicitor General, and Robin Austin our returning MLA from Terrace. I have had the pleasure of working with both members of the house pertaining to my ongoing battles with WCB. The root of the majority of problems within WCB relate directly to the indiscriminate changes foisted on the system by Gordon Campbell during his first tenure in office. The Liberal government had been lobbied long and hard as to the unsustainable cost of WCB operations. Remember that this is a corporation that must be self supporting, no government funding required. WCB was to be funded by the employer, offsetting the loss of the employee’s right to sue the employer, and the government, regarding injury in the work place. The foundation theory is very sound with the anticipation that the employee and the employer would both support the benefit of working safely. Long term saving would be realized by all parties. The actual charge to the government was that the cost of the program was too high for the employer. The Liberal government was extremely shortsighted in its inept handling of the issue. I suggest that if they could have foreseen the growing outrage that now fuels this fight they would have taken a different venue. At present, permanently disabled workers are shocked to find that at age sixty five, any disability pension they may have clawed from this government is suddenly stopped. I can only presume that we are dead, in recite of a miracle cure, or cast aside to live in abject poverty. The answer, unfortunately, is the latter. A case in point, a worker reaches his prime earning years, the time to build future equity, plan for retirement, stabilize his family, then in the instant of time that becomes an eternity, the worker is injured, permanently! The worker’s ability to project a future is gone, family stability, retirement plans, life savings, gone in an instant. A future totally dependent on the social conscious of governments. A life change of command, to servitude. Why must the injured worker be cast with the lot of poverty through no neglect of his own? Why does Work Safe BC think it has the right to lessen the value of a human being because of injury? A rotten house covered with vinyl siding is still a rotten house. WCB, draped in the new name of Work Safe BC, it is still a rotten house. Page 8 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance The endorsement of Work Safe BC, its methods of operation, its abuse of injured workers, its unlimited powers of control, are all planks of support in a rotten house. The impact of the deceit, lies, and self interest that governs the operation of WCB has resulted in direct confrontation with the workers it is designed to help. The BC. Federation of Labour is uniting against the tyranny of Work Safe BC. The Public Service Alliance of Canada has formed an investigation body to review the process of WCB. A paper is being drafted for presentation to the Auditor General requesting an internal investigation in to the operation, goals, and methods employed by Work Safe BC. The operations area of Work Safe BC has been transformed into a highly regulated security zone. Guards are abundant and obtrusive. The reception desks are made so that people can not achieve physical contact with the administrators. The interview rooms are small segregated cells with one way door locks, cramped seating, and hidden audio, and visual recording capabilities. Escorts are required to travel the maze of deliberately confusing passages. The order of the day is control. The public is no longer willing, nor able, to wait for the honesty, humanity, and helping hands they have been deceived into expecting. The single question arising from the reality that is Work Safe BC, should be “how has this come to pass”? The people of British Columbia should become much more politically alert to the intrusions of all levels of government. People should become much more vigilant in the protection of their freedoms. Society should not be afraid to challenge government doctrine. The statements and judgements of our provincial leaders should be questioned, and held to account. The status quo must be reviewed, and if a deficiency is found the will of the people must mandate change. Tony Vincenzi lives in Terrace. SUPREME COURT ISSUES MAJOR PENSION RULING > > In a precedent-setting decision, issued on August 7, the Supreme Court of Canada > has ruled that an employer did not violate its obligations as administrator of > its employee pension plan when it used the funds in the plan to pay the plan's > administrative expenses, or when it allowed surplus funds arising from the defined > benefit (DB) component of the plan, covering one group of employees, to be used > to meet its funding obligations to another group of employees covered by the > defined contribution (DC) component of the plan. > > The rest of this report is available at: http://www.lancasterhouse.com/ Page 9 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Website Links – Information Resources PFIZER Has this page where you can look up organizations in Canada by type: http://www.morethanmedication.ca/en/find_support/?gclid=CKOx0I_ziZkCFRhhnAodlTSQmA Worker’s Advocate Information Kit for Ontario (from the Office of the Worker Advisor Website) http://www.owa.gov.on.ca/workers_kits/NEL_kit.html Workers Compensation Boards of Canada http://www.awcbc.org/en/ Ron Ellis Award June 5, 2008: The Workers‟ Compensation Section of the Ontario Bar Association honoured Steve Mantis of Kaministiquia, Ontario a longtime leader and grassroots organizer of Ontario‟s injured worker movement, with the Ron Elis Award for excellence and outstanding contribution to workers‟ compensation. OBA Centre, 200 – 20 Toronto Street, Toronto, Ontario. See the Tribute prepared and delivered by Marion Endicott at the award: http://www.injuredworkersonline.org/Documents/Ron_Ellis_Award08.pdf Page 10 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance IRSST News Releases DOWNLOAD THE REPORT (PDF) at: http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/RG-546.pdf When we are deterred by what others think A study published by the IRSST reveals, among other things, the disastrous consequences for injured workers when they do not feel believed or supported during their absence from work. Researchers actually observed the importance of workers' social reality for better understanding their rehabilitation process by listening to representations of health, illness and pain by workers unable to return to work due to musculoskeletal-related pain. The meaning of work generates stress or well-being. Meaningful work has vitamin effects on the worker's mental health and encourages his commitment towards an organization, while work without it promotes the onset of symptoms of stress, and even distress. This is one of the findings of a study funded by the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) on the meaning of work, mental health and organizational commitment, whose results have just been published. Research Projects by the IRRST Development of a complete solution for supporting prevention and intervention on psychosocial risks in the workplace #099-698: Ongoing Jean-Pierre Brun / Université Laval, Michel Vézina / Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Caroline Biron / Université Laval #099-698 : Companies, unions and joint sector-based associations are increasingly concerned about psychological health in the workplace. The research team's objectives are to inform, equip, train and support workplaces by developing a complete and diversified support solution for the prevention of psychosocial risks and interventions in this regard. The result of this activity will be a range of easily accessible information and tools that can be referred to by managers, union representatives, employees and resource people in the occupational health and safety field so that they can successfully carry out their procedures to prevent psychosocial risks in the workplace. TO FIND OUT MORE: http://www.irsst.qc.ca/en/_projet_3665.html Survey and analysis of the strategies for evaluating exposure to workplace contaminants #099-694 Daniel Drolet, Nicole Goyer, Brigitte Roberge / IRSST Jérôme Lavoué / Institut universitaire romand de Santé au travail André Dufresne / Université McGill Guylaine Beauchamp / IRSST Calculation of the work/rest regimen Quebec Occupational Health and Safety Research Institute (IRSST) and Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) conceived a computer-based tool allowing to estimate the alternate work/rest regimen during work in a hot environment. This bilingual tool is intended to support occupational health and safety practitioners in managing hot periods in the work environment. The computer-based tool calculates the alternate work/rest regimen during work in a hot environment using the following parameters: metabolic rate, WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) temperature values at the workstation and at the rest location, as well as the clothing worn by the worker. Page 11 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Chronic Pain SIX MILLION CANADIANS LIVING IN PAIN FACE BARRIERS TO CARE The Painexplained.ca Campaign targets five top barriers preventing Canadians from accessing effective pain care. For more information: Ingrid Thompson, Campaign Coordinator, 647-428-7133 or info@painexplained.ca Ingrid@painexplained.ca 701 Rossland Road East, Suite 373, Whitby, ON L1N 9K3 Ph: 647-428-7133 / Fx: 905-668-3728 / Web: www.painexplained.ca Toronto, November 3, 2008 – Canadian doctors, patients, researchers, and other healthcare professionals are condemning the barriers that prevent Canadians from accessing proper and timely pain care. As part of this year‟s National Pain Awareness Week (November 2 – 8, 2008), the Painexplained.ca Campaign is targeting key reasons why Canadians are suffering needlessly or excessively from acute and chronic pain. “Our concern is this: how many of the six million Canadians out there in moderate-to severe chronic pain are suffering unnecessarily?” said Dr. Barry patients, leaving them with nowhere to turn. 15% of chronic pain patients also report being discouraged from receiving a pain treatment necessary to relieve their pain. (Source: Nanos Research, Oct 2008) 3. Doctors feel reluctant to prescribe needed pain medications: Best practice pain management often calls for the use of opioids and other powerful medications. Historic regulatory actions against pain doctors have put a „chill‟ on general willingness to prescribe pain medications, making it harder for legitimate pain patients to access proper pain care. Sessle, President of the Canadian Pain Society and Campaign Co-Founder. “We know that too many are 4. Wait times for effective pain care are unacceptable: An audit of wait times confirmed that some Canadians must wait as long as five years to receive care from an academic pain clinic. The risk of suicide while waiting for care is double that of the general population. (Source: CPS). “When you or someone you love is suffering, every 5. Out-dated attitudes make us reluctant to ‘speak up’ for proper pain care: Many Canadians mistakenly feel that pain is a normal part of their disease or the healing and aging processes, and therefore don‟t speak up to get treatment. But over time, the chemical and structural changes in the nervous system of those suffering unrelieved pain actually causes our nerve pathways to become „sensitized‟. This makes the pain more difficult (if not impossible) to treat effectively. not getting the timely care they desperately want and deserve. That‟s why we are targeting key barriers that cause greatest delay and distress to Canadian pain patients.” minute spent waiting for proper pain care feels like a travesty,” said Lynn Cooper, President of the Canadian Pain Coalition and Campaign Founding Member. “It is unacceptable that so many of us are living with pain that could have been prevented, cured, or reduced with proper and timely care.” Five key issues have been identified which are exacerbating the struggle of Canadians with untreated or undertreated pain: 1. Canadian Healthcare Professionals are insufficiently trained about pain: A 2007 audit of 41 Canadian undergraduate Healthcare Professional programs revealed that 67% of all healthcare programs surveyed could not identify specific training in the mechanisms, diagnosis or treatment of pain. The same study revealed that Canadian veterinary students get five times as much specific training about pain as medical students. (Source: WattWatson/McGillion/Hunter, 2007) 2. Pain Patients are struggling to find doctors able and willing to help: Over 14% of chronic pain patients report being refused care by a doctor or having their care terminated because of their pain. Many new physicians are refusing to take on these Page 12 “New knowledge and best practices now exist that can help prevent, manage and even cure chronic pain,” Dr. James Henry, Scientific Director of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care at McMaster University, and President of the Canadian Pain Foundation. “But patients aren‟t yet benefiting from this knowledge, in part because of these systemic barriers. It‟s time we did better for Canadians living with pain.” Painexplained.ca is a new campaign supported by the Canadian Pain Society, Canadian Pain Coalition, the Canadian Pain Foundation and other partner groups, companies and individuals. The campaign seeks to raise awareness and promote better prevention and management of all types of pain in Canada. �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Page 13 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Our Goals CIWA/ACVAMT Is about  Support We are a national network of injured worker's groups (IWG's) and we exist to strengthen and support the work of local and provincial IWG's across Canada. Independence We believe that injured workers should be in control of their own destinies & Injured Workers Groups must be democratically controlled by injured workers. Partnerships We believe that we can best assist these objectives by providing training and educational resources in partnership with provincial or territorial organizations of injured workers and the trade union movement at all levels. Information Sharing We believe that by sharing our stories and our experience we can learn from each other and become better educated and exert more control over our lives. To work towards a just system of compensation, rehabilitation and reemployment in all of Canada.  To provide a national forum for debating issues concerning injured workers at national conferences and board workshops.  To gather and share information with groups across Canada.  To improve the Occupational Health & Safety of workers across Canada.  To identify and make available, educational and training resources produced by the union movement and other agencies, that focus on organizing and maintaining effective injured worker groups.  To enhance the local base of the injured workers movement through all our activities.  To form partnerships that will achieve common goals. Publications Available  The VOICE OF INJURED WORKER  PLAIN TALK  HOW TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN INJURED WORKERS & ORGANIZED LABOUR  REPORT ON RELATIONS WITH LABOUR SESSION AT CIWA NATIONAL CONFERENCE, REGINA 1992  RETURNING TO WORK  VOC REHAB & RE-EMPLOYMENT FROM THE INJURED WORKER'S PERSPECTIVE  INJURED WORKERS … ON THE MOVE  COMING TOGETHER VIDEOS & WORKBOOKS  YOUTH PROJECT MANUAL, 2002  SURVIVORS, 1997  TOGETHER WE CAN WIN, 1997  PEER HELPER TRAINING MANUAL, 2000 - "PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE"  LE COMBAT QUOTIDIEN DES VICTIMES DU TRAVAIL, 1999 To find out more, please contact us at: CIWA/ACVAMT 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6R2 Ph: 807-345-3429/Fx: 807-344-8683 Toll Free: 1-877-787-7010 Email: ciwa@vianet.ca Web Site: www.ciwa.ca Connect with an injured workers group near you. Check out our web site at: www.ciwa.ca  OR  Call our office at (807) 345-3429 or Toll Free at 1-877-787-7010 This Newsletter is intended to share information of interest to injured workers/ groups / organizations, union activists and their supporters. It provides a forum for sharing our experiences - so we can learn from each other - in order to improve the lives of injured and disabled workers and the system that is there to assist them. Please help - by sharing your story with us. Page 14 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CIWA Highlights Newsletter 2009 Description An account of the resource Articles about medical marijuana in Ontario, Ontario WSIB losing $3.34B to payouts and stock market drops, chronic pain research in Quebec, the Day of Mourning deaths in the workplace in Newfoundland, news and research projects by the IRRST, the Painexplained.ca campaign for education on chronic pain. Letter to the editor about issues with the governance of Work Safe New Brunswick. List of website links to resources for injured workers. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource CIWA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2009 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Subject The topic of the resource Labour and Labour Unions https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/4bc33529d1bd849b916d42061ac49709.pdf d32dff8f50950bc9a5fbea4ebb6fc0c7 PDF Text Text CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL SALES AGREEMENT #1685422 Inside ….. CIWA/ACVAMT Contacts ......................................................... 2 BC-WorkSafe Policy Decision .................................................... 3 SK ........................................................................................... 3 MB, Prevention ........................................................................ 3 ON, Medical Marijuana ............................................................. 4 ON, WSIB Blamed for Death ..................................................... 4 NS, IW‟s call for Rights ............................................................. 5 QC, Chronic Pain ...................................................................... 6 NL, Day of Mourning ................................................................ 7 ON, Ron Ellis Award ................................................................. 8 QC, News Releases .................................................................. 9 ON, Pain Explained................................................................. 10 Miscellaneous ........................................................................ 11 CIWA, About ......................................................................... 12 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail P L E A SE HE L P … … … … S U B S C R I B E T O D A Y ! Name: ________________________________ Date: Organization: ________________________________ Address: ________________________________ ________________________________ Postal Code ________________________________ Phone ________________________________ Fax ________________________________ E-Mail ________________________________ Web Site ________________________________ ________________________________ Newsletter Subscription: Highlights is published 4 times per year Injured Worker/Unemployed $ 5.00 _________ Individuals $ 10.00 _________ Organizations $ 15.00 _________ Donations $ _________ Total $ _________ CIWA THANKS YOU for Your SUPPORT Editor’s Note This newsletter is distributed via email, fax, or mail to CIWA/ACVAMT members and groups with an interest in injured worker issues as resource tool to share and exchange information. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the individuals or groups making submissions. We take no responsibility for their accuracy or for their opinions. You are welcome to share and distribute this newsletter with others that are interested. It is also available on our website at www.ciwa.ca. PROVINCIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF CIWA/ACVAMT VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS… EXECUTIVE OFFICERS… SK ... Robert Lindsay, Regina Western Injured Workers Society President ... Secretary … Treasurer … NS... Dave MacKenzie, Westville Pictou County PEI ... Leonard J. Crawford, Summerside ON ... Gerry Landry, Thunder Bay Ontario Network of Injured Worker Groups AB... Sherri Scott, Fort MacMurray NL... Clive Hamilton, Labrador City Rob Lindsay Leonard J. Crawford Dave MacKenzie ADVISORS… Vincent Boyce, Injured Worker, Manitoba Andy King, U.S.W.A. Lynn Shaw, University of Western Ontario Patti MacAhonic, BC Injured Workers and Survivors Education Association STAFF… Phil Brake, National Coordinator Monika Wiitala, Office Manager L’ALLIANCE CANADIENNE DES VICTIMES D’ACCIDENTS ET DE MALADIES DU TRAVAIL CANADIAN INJURED WORKERS ALLIANCE 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, Ontario. P7B 6R2 Phone: 807-345-3429 Fax: 807-344-8683 Page 2 email: ciwa@vianet.ca Toll Free: 1-877-787-7010 Web-site: www.ciwa.ca �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance PROVINCIAL REPORTS BRITISH COLUMBIA http://www.worksafebc.ca/regulation_and_policy/policy_decision/board_decisions/2008/march/default.asp Policy decision finalized at the March 2008 WorkSafeBC Board of Directors meeting The following resolutions were finalized by WorkSafeBC's Board of Directors in March 2008. For information about the function and mandate of the Board of Directors, please see Governing Structure. (http://www.worksafebc.ca/about_us/governance/default.asp)    Policy Amendments Regarding an Enhancement to Experience Rating to Address Impact of Change in Minimum Size Criteria for Rate Groups on Experience Rating (http://www.worksafebc.ca/regulation_and_policy/p olicy_decision/board_decisions/2008/march/default. asp#6) Section 251 Decision – Loss of Earnings (http://www.worksafebc.ca/regulation_and_policy/p olicy_decision/board_decisions/2008/march/default. asp#1) Policy Amendments regarding Average Earnings and Exceptional Circumstances (http://www.worksafebc.ca/regulation_and_policy/p olicy_decision/board_decisions/2008/march/default. asp#2)    Amount of Disfigurement Awards (http://www.worksafebc.ca/regulation_and_policy/p olicy_decision/board_decisions/2008/march/default. asp#3) Policy Amendments Regarding an Enhancement to Experience Rating – The Excess Cost Surcharge (http://www.worksafebc.ca/regulation_and_policy/p olicy_decision/board_decisions/2008/march/default. asp#4) Revised Effective Dates for Approved Policy Packages (http://www.worksafebc.ca/regulation_and_policy/p olicy_decision/board_decisions/2008/march/default. asp#5) SASKATCHEWAN An excerpt from “A Voice of Our Own”, Vol. 26, Iss. 2 With a new government in the Province of Saskatchewan, Donna Harpauer, Minister responsible for Disability Issues has made her priorities as children first and disability second. The new government also recognizes the importance of Community Based Organizations, so an increase to some cored funding is expected. The Council of Canadians with Disabilities received over 7,000 requests for assistance, ranging from advocacy, information/referral, research, income, and CPP Disability. MANITOBA Prevention The Mandate for Prevention Every year more than 35,000 Manitoba workers suffer injuries and illnesses at workplaces covered by workers compensation. On average, some 20 workers lose their lives at work each year. Five years ago, Manitoba had the highest time-loss injury rate of any jurisdiction in Canada.* We believe each incident of work-related injury and illness represents an opportunity for prevention. Since then, Manitobans have become increasingly aware that workplace injuries and illnesses are indeed preventable. It is becoming socially and morally unacceptable to maintain unsafe workplaces. Page 3 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail The shift in social attitudes toward workplace safety and injury prevention has been part of a process. The first step began in 2001 and 2002, when the Government of Manitoba commissioned a major review of workplace safety and health in Manitoba. As a result of that review, the Government directed the WCB and the Workplace Safety and Health Division of Manitoba Labour and Immigration (WSHD) to assume joint responsibility for injury prevention and to achieve a 25 percent reduction in the time-loss injury rate over five years. The WCB and the WSHD launched an ambitious and successful injury and illness prevention strategy that in three years has achieved a 19 percent reduction in the time-loss injury rate.** … each incident of work-related injury and illness represents an opportunity for prevention. Yours Truly Vincent Boyce Advisor / CIWA ONTARIO Medical marijuana covered by WSIB The Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal has recently allowed that medical marijuana is covered by the compensation system. The injured worker must have a Health Canada card authorizing possession. The payment will be made regardless of where the marijuana is purchased and thus without the need for receipts. It will be paid for the amount indicated by Health Canada, and it will be paid at the rate that Health Canada charges. The decision can be found on the WSIAT website where all decisions are published. It is number 2335 06R dated July 8th, 2008. The neutral citation is 2008 ONWSIAT 1890. Marion Endicott WSIB Blamed for Man's Death May 10, 2008 (This story was first reported by Darrell Powell on the April 28th Day of Mourning radio special Also see August 2008 US Court decision Workplace Stress Ruled Compensable) http://www.ciws.ca/articles_us_stress_compensation.htm Stress of fight to prove injury claim blamed for man's death Globe and Mail, KATE HAMMER http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.2008 0510.INJURED10/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario The doctor who performed the autopsy told his family that Jeff Thompson died of a bleeding ulcer due to severe stress. But according to those who knew him, Mr. Thompson was killed by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. While working for a cable installation company, Mr. Thompson injured his right knee in 2004 when he slipped and fell. He never fully recovered, and spent the few remaining years of his life nearly completely bound to his North Middlesex County home, arguing his workers compensation claim with the board. Mr. Thompson's family received notice Monday that the WSIB will pay his burial expenses. However, it remained unclear whether it will accept any liability in his death, or address concerns his family has raised Page 4 about how injured workers are treated throughout the claim process. "I don't want other families to go through this, I want to be able to show that my brother had a legitimate injury and nobody needs to be spoken to and treated the way he was," said Colleen Mathers, Mr. Thompson's sister. The family has requested an inquest, and has been waiting for the WSIB to release his files since his death on Feb. 10. John Slinger, chief operating officer of the WSIB, said that it is against board policy to discuss individual cases publicly, but that he couldn't recall any cases in which the board was held responsible for the death of a worker due to stress. According to advocacy groups, injured workers often suffer from depression and anxiety associated with the difficulties of filing a compensation claim. The �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance extensive paperwork and medical documents required provide tools for board adjudicators to identify fraud, but can also discourage legitimate claims and distress workers who are vulnerable. Data collected by the Ontario Federation of Labour indicate that the percentage of claims that are abandoned has more than doubled over the past 15 years. "It's a huge shock to them how much they're distrusted, and even more than that, there's nothing they feel they can do to advance their cause because even their family doctor won't be listened to in many cases," said David Wilken, a staff lawyer for the Industrial Accident Victims Group of Ontario. As the pain in Mr. Thompson's knee persisted, and he was unable to stand, sit or sleep comfortably, his WSIB adjudicator threatened to stop his benefits. "It became all he would talk about," Ms. Mathers said. "He went crazy trying to prove himself, to prove his pain. We became really worried about him." The adjudicator threatened to end his benefits when Mr. Thompson didn't comply with the "labour market re-entry plan," which required him to attend classes in London, 120 kilometers from his home. Mr. Thompson was taking morphine daily, and found that driving aggravated his pain. Ms. Mathers said her brother filed forms and doctors' notes to support his claims that he wasn't well enough to drive or attend classes, but that his adjudicator continued to threaten to cut or remove his benefits. The burden of defending the severity of his injuries and the financial strain of living off his shrinking benefits seemed to age her brother overnight, she said. The day after Mr. Thompson died, a letter from the WSIB arrived at his home. It was notification that his benefits had been cut by 50 per cent. "That would have killed him just to have seen how little he was going to get," Ms. Mathers said. Also See: http://www.safe-workplace.com/safetyblog/2008/05/stress-of-fight-to-prove-injury-claim.html NOVA SCOTIA Injured Workers Call On Business, Organizations, like CFIB Injured workers in Nova Scotia and across Canada appeal to the membership of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and The Canadian Federation of Independent Small Business (http://www.cfib.ca/en/default.asp?l=E) to return to injured workers their rights, that they have had taken away by "your" insurance provider, the Workers Compensation Boards in Canada. We want the right to be treated as every other Canadian citizen is, according to section 15.1 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It makes it easier to understand why politicians in Ottawa do not want to listen to injured workers concers now, when you see a former Elected Cabinet Minister (http://www.chamber.ca/article.asp?id=398#perrin) sitting as the President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. How can anyone consider themselves to be Honourable when they and their association finance these abusive WCB Boards in Canada? Our rights have been stolen away by the businesses that finance this system known as the Workers Compensation Program, through legislation known as the Workers Compensation Act. This legislation places injured workers at a major disadvantage and has resulted in far too many suicides because of the frustration these WCB Boards impose upon us. The WCB system is a denial program, forcing many injured workers into poverty. In the weeks ahead, I will explore the cause behind suicide within the injured worker family and in time, the families affected will speak out. The pain and hurt must stop and stop now. Page 5 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail QUEBEC – Info IRSST Newsletter Very interesting information can be found at their website: http://www.irsst.qc.ca:80/files/documents/en/InfoIrsst/Actuel/InfoIRSST_v06n02.htm PREVENTION GUIDE Handling work and customer service in warehouse superstores Everyone goes to superstores, but did you know that the employees working in them have a good chance of suffering from back pain? For this growing sector, the English version of a prevention guide has just been published by the IRSST and Groupe-conseil AON. In addition to offering different practical advice, this document proposes solution scenarios that are easy to implement for better prevention of handling-related accidents and the associated back pain. CHRONIC PAIN RESEARCH AND TREATMENT IN QUEBEC GETS $4.35-MILLION BOOST FROM PFIZER, ASTRAZENECA, MSSS AND FRSQ Unique public-private partnership in Quebec‟s pain research and treatment networks will provide better tools to research, diagnose and treat chronic pain. February 28, 2008 Two of Canada‟s leading pharmaceutical companies are joining forces with the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ) and Quebec‟s Health and Social Services Ministry (MSSS) to help in the battle against chronic pain and give a boost to Quebec‟s pain researchers and clinics affiliated with Quebec‟s four medical-research universities. The partnership – a first in Canada – is designed to strengthen what is already the country‟s leading pain research and treatment network, the Quebec Pain Research Network (QPRN), which links pain clinics at Quebec‟s four university-hospital networks and more than 75 doctors and researchers specialized in chronic pain. Under the partnership, Pfizer Canada, AstraZeneca, the FRSQ and MSSS will provide $4.35 million over Joint battle against chronic pain “The battle against chronic pain is really a collective effort uniting researchers in the public and private sectors, front-line medical professionals and patients themselves,” said Alain Beaudet, President and CEO of the FRSQ. In leading the partnership, the FRSQ‟s goal is to support Quebec‟s pain research, particularly to advance understanding of prevalence, incidence and the natural course of different pain syndromes, and to ensure that this knowledge is transferred to the clinic to benefit patients. “This initiative takes us to the next level by bringing our research knowledge and excellence onto the frontlines to help doctors and patients manage pain more effectively,” Beaudet said. The QPRN groups researchers and doctors at Université de Montréal, Université de Sherbrooke, Page 6 four years to fund research and education that will improve our understanding of chronic pain and help doctors diagnose and treat pain more effectively. “Chronic pain is a devastating and debilitating silent epidemic and we need better knowledge and treatments for doctors and patients,” said Dr. Yves de Koninck, Scientific Director of the QPRN and professor affiliated with Laval University and the university‟s Centre de recherche Université Laval Robert-Giffard. “More than a million Quebecers – about one in five – will suffer from chronic pain during their lifetime. The economic costs alone in health care and loss of productivity are staggering – an estimated $125 billion a year in the US.” Université Laval and McGill University, as well as their teaching hospitals, government organizations and the Association Québécoise de la douleur chronique, Quebec‟s leading patient group. “The Quebec government is pleased to partner with the FRSQ to establish this important chronic pain research initiative. This investment will enable the QPRN to structure clinical research, facilitate the transfer of discoveries and practical knowledge to medical professionals and improve the treatment of chronic pain sufferers. The QPRN‟s activities are among the most pertinent and essential in improving the quality of life for the 20% of Quebecers who suffer from pain at some point in their lives,” said Philippe Couillard, Minister of Health and Social Services. �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Quebec a world leader in pain research “At AstraZeneca, we established our analgesia drug discovery laboratories in Montreal in large part because Quebec is a renowned world leader in pain research excellence,” said Dr. Philippe Walker, VicePresident Discovery, and head of AstraZeneca‟s research laboratories in Montreal, where more than 100 scientists and chronic-pain experts work on developing better medicines to treat and manage pain. “This is a unique partnership and opportunity for us to work together to gain better insight into the causes of chronic pain and how to manage pain more effectively for the benefit of patients.” “Pfizer is a leader in the research of innovative solutions for pain management, including the development of unique compounds which are breaking scientific ground and discovering novel ways to treat chronic pain," says Dr. Bernard Prigent, Vice-President and Medical Director, Pfizer Canada. "Pfizer is proud to join this partnership as the QPRN initiative is a unique model which could streamline research efforts aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain. The transfer of these research findings to healthcare professionals in hospital, clinic settings and research organizations such as Pfizer, will be key in our collective capacity to develop better treatment options for people living with chronic pain.” The partnership investment is $4.35 million over four years. The FRSQ has committed $2 million over four years, Pfizer Canada $1.2 million over four years, AstraZeneca $750,000 over three years, and MSSS $400,000 over four years. Pfizer and AstraZeneca have research facilities around the world and are both major investors in R&D in Canada, with Pfizer investing about $190 million a year and AstraZeneca more than $100 million a year. As the health-research funding arm of the Quebec Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, the FRSQ invests about $90 million a year in health research and education in Quebec. Pain facts:  Chronic pain strikes one in five adults - 1.2 million Quebecers will suffer from chronic pain during their lifetime. Among the elderly, the proportion rises to 50 percent.  Women are more at risk of developing chronic pain than men.  People with chronic pain have been suffering on average for 7 years.  Nearly half (47%) say their pain is not under control.  Chronic pain adversely affects quality of life, both in terms of emotional well-being and ability to function normally. -30For more information please contact: For more information, or to arrange interviews with leading pain experts in Montreal, Sherbrooke and Quebec City, please contact: Michelle Dubuc, FRSQ, (514) 873-2114 Ext. 235 Sylvie Tessier, Pfizer Canada Inc., (514) 693-4609 Jennifer Robinson, AstraZeneca R&D, (514) 518-3505 Isabelle Merizzi, Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS), (418) 266-7171 These press releases were issued in Canada and are intended as reference information for Canadians. The information contained in each press release was accurate at the time of issuance, and Pfizer Canada assumes no responsibility for updating the information to reflect subsequent developments. NEWFOUNDLAND April 28-Day of Mourning Hello Fellow Injured Workers and Concerned Citizens, April 28 is International Day of Mourning for Injured and Dead Workers, I mourn today for three men from Newfoundland and Labrador. Neil Lockyer, Jason House, and myself. Neil was injured in B.C. with a head injury in 1989. Jason fell through a roof in Alberta in 2005 suffering multiple injuries including his skull cracked in three Page 7 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail places, both shoulders, right hip and pelvis broken, two disks and a broken vertebra, in 2005. I was involved in a railway accident in Ontario in 1979 suffering a crushed ankle, shattered shoulder, broken arm, broken collar bone, post concussion syndrome, three herniated disks, and more. All of us permanently disabled from our employment. From three different Provinces we came home to lick our wounds. Family and friends our only comfort. But they followed and watched like vultures on a perch. Waiting. "Did he walk?" "I saw him today and he smiled so he must be okay?" They report back to Ontario and B.C. and Alberta. The checks stop. The appeals begin, and always under the microscope. Forced to relive all the events since the accident and justifying what does not need justifying. Forced to live off family and welfare, demeaned, belittled, slandered, maligned, and otherwise abused. Forced to stay in a merry go round of abuse. Poor Neil. His injured brain could not take it. He killed a man. A WCB spy he thought. Stabbed him nineteen Times in his daughters kitchen. She tried to get help. Said her Father needed help because he was believing WCB spies were after him to cut him off. How many times between 1989 and 2005 was he cut off? How many spies did he really see? But he was paranoid because of his brain injury they said, before they locked him away in the Waterford Psychiatric Hospital. Not even a look at factors that might involve the WCB in B.C. I watch, and protest , and try to get in court to help him but no one listens to me. They think I am mad. WCB spies, posing as hunters, followed him to Newfoundland one year after his accident. They videotaped him walking with a cane and getting into his fathers truck. They declared him fit for work and cut him off. He has since appealed and won a partial victory. But at what cost? Will he, in another two, five or ten years, be cut off again, hounded again? How many times? Then there is me. I don't care if they look. I will do as much as my body can do, no more, no less. But me they ignore. 1979 to present. Ignore me to the point I have no doctor or medical care. How many videos of me do they show behind closed doors to "prove" I am not disabled? I grieve for Mr. Lockyer whose life has been ruined and for his distraught daughter who could find no help. I grieve for Mr. House because I know the road he is now forced to travel. I grieve for me because everyone thinks I am crazy and a welfare bum. I am so helpless to help them or myself. Decades apart but yet the same mistreatment. I wonder how many more suicides and murders it will take for everyone to wake up and demand fundamental change? So today mourn not only the injured and dead, mourn for the abused too. Best Regards, Fred Palmer Then comes along Jason. He lost a $300,00.00 home, a mustang, a truck, a motorbike, a framing business, and lost it all in three years. Do you know what happens when you get injured at work? Find out here. www.ciws.ca and www.wcbcanada.com Ron Ellis Award June 5, 2008: The Workers‟ Compensation Section of the Ontario Bar Association honoured Steve Mantis of Kaministiquia, Ontario a longtime leader and grassroots organizer of Ontario‟s injured worker movement, with the Ron Elis Award for excellence and outstanding contribution to workers‟ compensation. OBA Centre, 200 – 20 Toronto Street, Toronto, Ontario. See the Tribute prepared and delivered by Marion Endicott at the award: http://www.injuredworkersonline.org/Documents/Ron_Ellis_Award08.pdf Page 8 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance DOWNLOAD THE REPORT (PDF) at: http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/RG-546.pdf When we are deterred by what others think A new study published by the IRSST reveals, among other things, the disastrous consequences for injured workers when they do not feel believed or supported during their absence from work. Researchers actually observed the importance of workers' social reality for better understanding their rehabilitation process by listening to representations of health, illness and pain by workers unable to return to work due to musculoskeletal-related pain. The meaning of work generates stress or well-being Meaningful work has vitamin effects on the worker's mental health and encourages his commitment towards an organization, while work without it promotes the onset of symptoms of stress, and even distress. This is one of the findings of a study funded by the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) on the meaning of work, mental health and organizational commitment, whose results have just been published. FRENCH-SPEAKING SUMMIT ON WORK RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDER (WMSD) : FROM RESEARCH TO ACTION On 18th and 19th June 2008 the IRSST held the second French-Speaking Summit on Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorder (WMSD): from research to action. About 300 researchers practitioners and professionals working in occupational health and safety field will take part in this event with the aim at drawing an overview on the topic and exploring successful initiatives to prevent WMSDs. Development of a complete solution for supporting prevention and intervention on psychosocial risks in the workplace 099-698 Jean-Pierre Brun / Université Laval Michel Vézina / Institut national de santé publique du Québec Caroline Biron / Université Laval TO FIND OUT MORE http://www.irsst.qc.ca/en/_projet_3665.html Survey and analysis of the strategies for evaluating exposure to workplace contaminants 099-694 Daniel Drolet, Nicole Goyer, Brigitte Roberge / IRSST Jérôme Lavoué / Institut universitaire romand de Santé au travail André Dufresne / Université McGill Guylaine Beauchamp / IRSST Calculation of the work/rest regimen Quebec Occupational Health and Safety Research Institute (IRSST) and Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) conceived a computer-based tool allowing to estimate the alternate work/rest regimen during work in a hot environment. This bilingual tool is intended to support occupational health and safety practitioners in managing hot periods in the work environment. The computer-based tool calculates the alternate work/rest regimen during work in a hot environment using the following parameters: metabolic rate, WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) temperature values at the workstation and at the rest location, as well as the clothing worn by the worker. Chronic Pain Page 9 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail NEWS RELEASE For immediate release SIX MILLION CANADIANS LIVING IN PAIN FACE BARRIERS TO CARE The Painexplained.ca Campaign targets five top barriers preventing Canadians from accessing effective pain care Toronto, November 3, 2008 – Canadian doctors, patients, researchers, and other healthcare professionals are condemning the barriers that prevent Canadians from accessing proper and timely pain care. As part of this year‟s National Pain Awareness Week (November 2 – 8, 2008), the Painexplained.ca Campaign is targeting key reasons why Canadians are suffering needlessly or excessively from acute and chronic pain. “Our concern is this: how many of the six million Canadians out there in moderate-to severe chronic pain are suffering unnecessarily?” said Dr. Barry Sessle, President of the Canadian Pain Society and Campaign Co-Founder. “We know that too many are not getting the timely care they desperately want and deserve. That‟s why we are targeting key barriers that cause greatest delay and distress to Canadian pain patients.” “When you or someone you love is suffering, every minute spent waiting for proper pain care feels like a travesty,” said Lynn Cooper, President of the Canadian Pain Coalition and Campaign Founding Member. “It is unacceptable that so many of us are living with pain that could have been prevented, cured, or reduced with proper and timely care.” Five key issues have been identified which are exacerbating the struggle of Canadianswith untreated or undertreated pain: 1. Canadian Healthcare Professionals are insufficiently trained about pain: A 2007 audit of 41 Canadian undergraduate Healthcare Professional programs revealed that 67% of all healthcare programs surveyed could not identify specific training in the mechanisms, diagnosis or treatment of pain. The same study revealed that Canadian veterinary students get five times as much specific training about pain as medical students. ( Source: WattWatson/McGillion/Hunter, 2007) 2. Pain Patients are struggling to find doctors able and willing to help: Over 14% of chronic pain patients report being refused care by a doctor or having their care terminated because of their pain. Many new physicians are refusing to take on these patients, leaving them with nowhere to turn. 15% of chronic pain patients also report being discouraged from receiving a pain treatment necessary to relieve their pain. (Source: Nanos Research, Oct 2008) 3. Doctors feel reluctant to prescribe needed pain medications: Best practice pain management often calls for the use of opioids and other powerful medications. Historic regulatory actions against pain doctors have put a „chill‟ on general willingness to prescribe pain medications, making it harder for legitimate pain patients to access proper pain care. 4. Wait times for effective pain care are unacceptable: An audit of wait times confirmed that some Canadians must wait as long as five years to receive care from an academic pain clinic. The risk of suicide while waiting for care is double that of the general population. (Source: CPS). 5. Out-dated attitudes make us reluctant to ‘speak up’ for proper pain care: Many Canadians mistakenly feel that pain is a normal part of their disease or the healing and aging processes, and therefore don‟t speak up to get treatment. But over time, the chemical and structural changes in the nervous system of those suffering unrelieved pain actually causes our nerve pathways to become „sensitized‟. This makes the pain more difficult (if not impossible) to treat effectively. “New knowledge and best practices now exist that can help prevent, manage and even cure chronic pain,” Dr. James Henry, Scientific Director of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care at McMaster University, and President of the Canadian Pain Foundation. “But patients aren‟t yet benefiting from this knowledge, in part because of these systemic barriers. It‟s time we did better for Canadians living with pain.” Painexplained.ca is a new campaign supported by the Canadian Pain Society, Canadian Pain Coalition, the Canadian Pain Foundation and other partner groups, companies and individuals. The campaign seeks to raise awareness and promote better prevention and management of all types of pain in Canada. Page 10 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance For more information Ingrid Thompson, Campaign Coordinator 647-428-7133 or Ingrid@painexplained.ca 701 Rossland Road East, Suite 373 Whitby, ON L1N 9K3 T : 647-428-7133 F: 905-668-3728 info@painexplained.ca www.painexplained.ca The Blind Girl There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.' One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend. He asked her, 'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.' This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations. Life Is a Gift Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak. Before you complain about the taste of your food Think of someone who has nothing to eat. Before you complain about your husband or wife Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion. Today before you complain about life – Think of someone who went too early to heaven. Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet. And when you are tired and complain about your job Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job. And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and think: you're alive and still around. Page 11 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Our Goals CIWA/ACVAMT Is about  Support We are a national network of injured worker's groups (IWG's) and we exist to strengthen and support the work of local and provincial IWG's across Canada. Independence We believe that injured workers should be in control of their own destinies & Injured Workers Groups must be democratically controlled by injured workers. Partnerships We believe that we can best assist these objectives by providing training and educational resources in partnership with provincial or territorial organizations of injured workers and the trade union movement at all levels. Information Sharing We believe that by sharing our stories and our experience we can learn from each other and become better educated and exert more control over our lives. To work towards a just system of compensation, rehabilitation and reemployment in all of Canada.  To provide a national forum for debating issues concerning injured workers at national conferences and board workshops.  To gather and share information with groups across Canada.  To improve the Occupational Health & Safety of workers across Canada.  To identify and make available, educational and training resources produced by the union movement and other agencies, that focus on organizing and maintaining effective injured worker groups.  To enhance the local base of the injured workers movement through all our activities.  To form partnerships that will achieve common goals. Publications Available  The VOICE OF INJURED WORKER  PLAIN TALK  HOW TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN INJURED WORKERS & ORGANIZED LABOUR  REPORT ON RELATIONS WITH LABOUR SESSION AT CIWA NATIONAL CONFERENCE, REGINA 1992  RETURNING TO WORK  VOC REHAB & RE-EMPLOYMENT FROM THE INJURED WORKER'S PERSPECTIVE  INJURED WORKERS … ON THE MOVE  COMING TOGETHER VIDEOS & WORKBOOKS  YOUTH PROJECT MANUAL, 2002  SURVIVORS, 1997  TOGETHER WE CAN WIN, 1997  PEER HELPER TRAINING MANUAL, 2000 - "PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE"  LE COMBAT QUOTIDIEN DES VICTIMES DU TRAVAIL, 1999 To find out more, please contact us at: CIWA/ACVAMT 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6R2 Ph: 807-345-3429/Fx: 807-344-8683 Toll Free: 1-877-787-7010 Email: ciwa@vianet.ca Web Site: www.ciwa.ca Connect with an injured workers group near you. Check out our web site at: www.ciwa.ca  OR  Call our office at (807) 345-3429 or Toll Free at 1-877-787-7010 This Newsletter is intended to share information of interest to injured workers/ groups / organizations, union activists and their supporters. It provides a forum for sharing our experiences - so we can learn from each other - in order to improve the lives of injured and disabled workers and the system that is there to assist them. Please help - by sharing your story with us. Page 12 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CIWA Highlights Newsletter 2008 Description An account of the resource Articles about WorkSafeBC policy decisions, WSIB in Ontario covering medical marijuana as well as potentially causing the stress-induced death of an injured worker, research on chronic pain being done in Quebec, the Ron Ellis Award being awarded to Steve Mantis, chronic pain and the painexplained.ca campaign, two brief stories, updates on the state of injured worker's rights in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource CIWA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Subject The topic of the resource Labour and Labour Unions https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/e53e9eefff7a8fccddae0ba9b36c0f8c.pdf d6dbe57f50715b1de37f4e7573bd3319 PDF Text Text CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL SALES AGREEMENT #1685422 50/50 Draw Special Thanks We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Sherri Scott, our Board Member in Fort MacMurray, Alberta; Tammy McCallum and Deborah RiceSolomons, employees with Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (CNRL) who were key to organizing and conducting the 50/50 Draw on behalf of the Canadian Injured Workers Alliance, on January 17, 2008. Tammy and Deborah were instrumental in recruiting volunteers to sell tickets and ensuring all aspects of the draw were a success. The lucky winner of the $10,000 draw was: Dave Nicholson, an employee with Wabi Contractors. Pictured: (L-R) Sherri Scott, Dave Nicholson, Tammy McCallum Thank you to all involved including the employees and contractors for the Horizon Group, and CNRL that rewarded us with fundraising efforts of $ 10,000.00 !!! Inside ….. CIWA/ACVAMT Contacts ............................................................. 2 Provincial Reports (BC) ............................................................... 3 Provincial Reports (SK) ................................................................ 4 Saskatchewan Privacy Commissioner “Breach of Privacy” Report .... 4 Provincial Reports (ON) ............................................................... 5 Provincial Reports (NS) ............................................................... 5 Railway Safety Act Review ........................................................... 6 Tidbits from Workers Health & Safety Centre ................................ 6 Ontario Ministry of Labour New Employment Standards Act (ESA) Poster for Workplaces ........... New Workplace Safety DVD Distributed to All Ontario High Schools ........................................................ 7 WSIB Announces Review of Experience Rating Program ................. 8 Internet Resources: On-line Medical Dictionary ............................. 8 Bill 14 ......................................................................................... 9 Stakeholder Submissions on Bill 187 Interim Changes .................... 9 Trick Question ........................................................................... 10 Sentencing for Quebec workplace death a first ............................ 11 CIWA, About ............................................................................ 12 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail P L E A SE HE L P … … … … S U B S C R I B E T O D A Y ! Name: ________________________________ Date: Organization: ________________________________ Address: ________________________________ ________________________________ Postal Code ________________________________ Phone ________________________________ Fax ________________________________ E-Mail ________________________________ Web Site ________________________________ ________________________________ Newsletter Subscription: Highlights is published 4 times per year Injured Worker/Unemployed $ 5.00 _________ Individuals $ 10.00 _________ Organizations $ 15.00 _________ Donations $ _________ Total $ _________ CIWA THANKS YOU for Your SUPPORT Editor’s Note This newsletter is distributed via email, fax, or mail to CIWA/ACVAMT members and gro ups with an interest in injured worker issues as resource tool to share and exchange information. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the individuals or groups making submissions. We take no responsibility for their accuracy or for their opinions. You are welcome to share and distribute this newsletter with others that are interested. It is also available on our website at www.ciwa.ca. PROVINCIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF CIWA/ACVAMT VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS… EXECUTIVE OFFICERS… SK ... Robert Lindsay, Regina Western Injured Workers Society President ... Secretary … Treasurer … NS... Dave MacKenzie, Westville Pictou County PEI ... Leonard J. Crawford, Summerside ON ... Gerry Landry, Thunder Bay Ontario Network of Injured Worker Groups AB... Sherri Scott, Fort MacMurray NL... Clive Hamilton, Labrador City Rob Lindsay Leonard J. Crawford Dave MacKenzie ADVISORS… Vincent Boyce, Injured Worker, Manitoba Andy King, U.S.W.A. Lynn Shaw, University of Western Ontario Patti MacAhonic, BC Injured Workers and Survivors Education Association STAFF… Phil Brake, National Coordinator Monika Wiitala, Office Manager L’ALLIANCE CANADIENNE DES VICTIMES D’ACCIDENTS ET DE MALADIES DU TRAVAIL CANADIAN INJURED WORKERS ALLIANCE 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, Ontario. P7B 6R2 Phone: 807-345-3429 Fax: 807-344-8683 Page 2 email: ciwa@vianet.ca Toll Free: 1-877-787-7010 Web-site: www.ciwa.ca �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance PROVINCIAL REPORTS BRITISH COLUMBIA As the widow of an injured worker and the mother of an injured worker, a statement I made many years ago has since been quoted many times by various sources, including industry newsletters and Hansard, BC legislature. “No one should have to go through what our family did. Every BC family has the right to expect their family members to come home at the end of the day, and our political leaders and agencies charged with the responsibility of protecting workers must make sure that happens.” 1 most at risk for workplace injuries than workers of any other age group. More than half of workplace accidents involving workers aged 15 to 24 occur during the first six months on the job, almost 20 percent occur during the first month on the job. Young males under the age of 25 are at the highest risk for a workplace injury in BC; every day 36 young workers are hurt on the job and that every week, 5 of these workers are permanently injured. 4 While I believed it then and I believe it now, I also have come to realize that while political leaders and agencies charged with the responsibilities of making sure our family members come home safely are responsible as well. We know all too well, first hand what happens when workers are killed or injured on the job and according to the statistics the amount of injured workers killed or injured are still unacceptably high. Solutions must include input from injured workers and survivors that have the motivation and passion to make change. There needs to be full stakeholder involvement in collaboration with our political leaders and agencies to find solutions that work so that more BC workers come home to their families each year, without injury. 1 In 2005 there was a 40% increase in fatalities from the previous year, 2004. 188 workers died as the result of a workplace injury, this is recorded as the highest level in 25 years. The active participation of the many stakeholders in BC including, injured workers, family members and survivors, who completed surveys, advocates, union reps, employers and various organizations who deal with injured workers who participated in focus groups and representatives from the ministries of labour and health and the WCB/WorkSafe who participated in interviews ensured a comprehensive collection of data that was required to gain a clear overview of the issues faced by injured workers and what is needed for a centre in BC to be effective. “This included 11 young workers (5 of the 11 worked in the construction industry) 43 fatalities in the forest sector and 39 deaths in the construction industry”. 2 Fatalities for forest industry workers for that past years include forty-three lives lost in 2005, 12 lives lost in 2006 and for 2007 up to the end of February 14, there were already three lives lost. 3 Three out of every four young workers claims are for young males. The injury rate for young male workers is about 33 percent higher than the overall injury rate in B.C. WCB/WorkSafe reports that each hour in BC, 1 young worker is hurt on the job. Young workers are the 2 MacAhonic, P. National Day of Mourning Service. (1998) Health and Workplace Safety. A brief by the British Columbia Federation of Labour. April 2006. 3 BC Forest Safety Council, Safety Statistics, http://www.bcforestsafe.org/content-nav-stats/nav-stats-1-about.htm Accessed February 14, 2007 4 Safety at Work, Frequently asked questions. http://www2.worksafebc.com/Topics/YoungWorker/FAQ.asp Accessed February 2007. Over the past months in my role as Western Canada Advisor for CIWA and an MBA student, Royal Roads University I have been diligently working on a feasibility study for an Injured Worker Centre in BC for the Canadian Injured Workers Alliance. The study is complete; the CIWA team, which includes the board and advisors, are ready to conduct the next steps, which are review of the plan and strategies regarding the study. I want to commend the hardworking CIWA Team, who actively supported me throughout this process. A special thank you goes out to Dr. Lynn Shaw, Advisor, Page 3 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Robert Lindsay, Phil Brake, and Sherri Scott, as well as Monika who fielded stray faxes and emails and made sure they arrived to me in BC. I also want to extend a special thanks to Liz Davies from the BC Persons with Disabilities Office who arranged and donated space, as well as Jim Parker from the BC Nurses Union who recruited participants and also provided meeting space. Jim has been an invaluable support and colleague for many years. Also George Allen from the BC Southern Injured Workers Group, who arranged and organized meetings and who actively, has made a difference for injured workers for many years in his region. Finally, I would like to thank Jan Siwinski, management consultant who volunteered her time to facilitate focus groups for this project. I look forward to our next steps and the improvement of conditions for injured workers and their families all across Canada. Yours in solidarity, Patti MacAhonic, BA, MBA Candidate Western Canada Advisor, Canadian Injured Workers Alliance SASKATCHEWAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN SASKATCHEWAN In the Province of Saskatchewan, the Western Injured Workers Society has been working hard at getting our Government to allowing us to implement our Youth project in the Schools. come out of it. They were doing some program training in the past, but we are uncertain if they are continuing on. We will look into that area with the SFL. The N.D.P. Government had showed some interest in the program but the main issue was, if they were to implement the program into the curriculum, then who would be responsible to teach it. This issue has forced everything to come to a halt. Some Unions have youth teams within their own locals, but not doing any training for Youth outside of their local Unions. Now that we have a new Government, hopefully we can work with them in regards to implementing our program into the schools of Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) also has a Youth program, but we haven't seen very much action CIWA must get the ball rolling with the provincial organizations to ensure our Youth Project continues on in all Provinces. Yours Truly Robert Lindsay President/ CIWA SASKATCHEWAN PRIVACY COMMISSIONER “BREACH OF PRIVACY” REPORT Fellow Injured Workers, For the past 10 years, I, like many IW‟s have been conditioned to believe we have little by way of legal recourse against WCB, much less the option to sue this corrupt bureaucracy. Well, as fate would have it, the Saskatchewan Privacy Commissioner has inadvertently, provided us with a means in which to pursue such litigation. On March 28th, 2007, the Privacy Commissioner released a 78 page report, regarding a “Breach of Privacy” complaint against the Saskatchewan Workers‟ Compensation Board. In this report, the Commissioner found 3 specific areas where a claimant‟s privacy was clearly violated. As it turns out, these same violations can be found in countless WCB claims in Saskatchewan, Page 4 and I firmly believe they‟re common in other jurisdictions as well. I‟ve compiled all relevant information regarding these privacy breaches, and posted it on a recently published website. Injured workers who have been wrongfully denied WCB benefits will find this information of particular interest, as nay claimant with respects to these violations. You‟ll find this website at: http://tombrownskwcb.tripod.com/saskatchewa nwcbbreachofprivacy Regards, Tom Brown (Injured Workers, SK) �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance ONTARIO ONIWG has had a busy year; our PAC has worked hard with Labour and our friends in the Legal community to win some small victories. We can‟t forget our injured workers who are always front and centre at all events. THANK YOU INJURED WORKERS!!!!!!!! Here are a few Highlights:  We made them move on the deeming issue: MOL and the Liberals that is. How it will fall out remains to be seen.  We received 2.5 % increase in our partial LOES for June 2007, January 2008, and January 2009. The next step is to have it be permanent.  We have held our June first Demo: our attendance at Queen‟s Park was quite high thanks to Labour.  Have attended Day of mourning.  RSI day  Demonstrated in front of the MOL‟s (Steve Peters) constituency office to show our displeasure with the way deeming was being interpreted by WSIB. This was during the election in October; again a good turn out by the London injured workers, Hamilton, Toronto and again Labour. I am sure I missed some group and I sincerely apologize.  We have forged new alliances with other disability groups in our province. The trick is to follow up and keep building. Our ongoing relationship with researchers is still strong with Steve Mantis and the RAACWII research and I with CIWA‟s KET or knowledge transfer. While sometimes I feel like we are being studied to death (INJURED WORKERS that is). I feel that the research gives many of us a voice and a platform for making change. We are thinking of putting together a conference to bring a lot of the researchers together to compare and share the knowledge gathered. This is still in the infancy stage.  We are currently trying to meet with the new MOL and his staff to ask for more change and to follow up on any promises made in the last election that they have not delivered on. NOTE: not this election but the first one the Liberals won remember Dalton„s promise on a fair system for injured workers.  DECEMBER 11 DAY of ACTION will be held at the MOL office and while the usual crowd will be on hand Sid Ryan has expressed interest in speaking. He may be able to draw a bit more press. Well that is all I can think of for now Gerry. I hope your meeting is fruitful and that our new year brings us closer together as injured worker groups and friends. And let us all reflect on our blessings no matter how small and be thankful over this holiday. Sincerely: Peter Page President ONIWG NOVA SCOTIA Since our last meeting, I have been very busy helping injured workers receive what is coming to them. I have been successful in helping eight different people receive their benefits for WCB. Four of them received the money that was owed to them. I have never charged any one for services. I had three CPP cases and was successful in all three. The South Shore Injured Workers are very active, and doing quite well. The Pictou County Injured Workers held a very successful Day of Mourning Ceremony on April 28, 2007. I attended the service of David Day in Stellarton and laid a wreath on behalf of the Town of Westville, of which I am the Deputy Mayor. Since no one showed up from the New Glasgow District Labour Council, I was asked to lay their wreath as well, since I am the Past President of the Labour Council. The present Conservative Government of Nova Scotia is trying to pass a law in the Legislature on the next sitting to make a “No Strike” Law on Health Care Workers. At this time the opposition N.D.P. and the Liberals are going to vote against this Bill. The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour and government workers Page 5 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail are staging a protest to try to convince the government of the day to rescind their motion. Hopefully, this Bill will be defeated. At this time, I would like to say thanks to our National Coordinator, Mr. Phil Brake, and our President, Mr. Robert Lindsay for a job well done. Keep up the good work. It‟s not easy. Sincerely, Dave MacKenzie, Nova Scotia. December, 2007 Railway Safety Act Review Address and information: / Renseignements généraux: Tim Meisner, Executive Director / Directeur exécutif, Railway Safety Act Review Secretariat / Secrétariat sur l'Examen de la Loi sur la sécurité ferroviaire 180 Elgin Street, Suite 901, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2K3 Tel/Tél: (613) 998-6462 / Fax: (613) 998-8274 E-mail: RailwaySafetyActReview@tc.gc.ca / Courriel: ExamenLoiSecuriteFerroviaire@tc.gc.ca I am pleased to announce the release of Stronger Ties: A Shared Commitment to Railway Safety, the report of the Railway Safety Act Review Advisory Panel. You may view, download or request a copy from the website at: www.tc.gc.ca/tcss/RSA_Review-Examen_LSF. On February 20, 2007, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities announced the appointment of a fourmember Advisory Panel to assist him in conducting a review of the Railway Safety Act (RSA). In the course of its work, the Panel consulted with a broad range of stakeholders across Canada, including the public, railway companies and their industry associations, railway employees and their unions, the provinces and territories, municipalities, aboriginal and environmental groups, Transport Canada, and other federal departments and agencies. The Panel held 15 public consultation meetings, heard from over 70 presenters and received over 180 written submissions from a variety of stakeholders. Panel members also visited a number of sites to gain further insight into rail operations and safety. The input of stakeholders was important to the work of the Panel and its members were impressed with the cooperation and level of interest that the Review generated. Page 6 Je suis très heureux d'annoncer la parution de Renforcer les liens: un engagement partagé pour la sécurité ferroviaire, rapport du Comité consultatif sur l'Examen de la Loi sur la sécurité ferroviaire. Vous pourriez le consulter ou le télécharger à partir du site Web, ou encore en demander une copie du rapport à l'adresse suivante : www.tc.gc.ca/tcss/RSA_Review-Examen_LSF. Le 20 février 2007, l'honorable Lawrence Cannon, ministre des Transports, de l'Infrastructure et des Collectivités a annoncé la nomination d'un comité consultatif formé de quatre membres pour l'aider à mener un examen de la Loi sur la sécurité ferroviaire (LSF). Au cours de l'Examen, le Comité a consulté un large éventail d'intervenants partout au Canada. Le Comité a tenu 15 séances de consultation publique, a entendu plus de 70 présentations et a reçu plus de 180 mémoires. En outre, les membres du Comité ont visité une variété de sites afin de mieux connaître les enjeux de l'exploitation ferroviaire et de la sécurité. L'apport des intervenants était important pour le travail du Comité et ses membres ont été impressionnés par la coopération et le niveau d'intérêt manifestés pour l'Examen. �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance ONTARIO MINISTRY OF LABOUR New Employment Standards Act (ESA) Poster for Workplaces www.labour.gov.on.ca TORONTO, Feb. 27 /CNW/ - The province is publishing a new version of a poster about the Employment Standards Act (ESA) that most Ontario employers will be required to post in the workplace. The poster outlines worker and employer rights and obligations and reflects recent changes to the ESA, regarding: - Minimum wage - Reservist leave - Declared emergency leave - Family Day and - Employees who qualify to take a family medical leave. "Recent changes to the Employment Standards Act are helping both workers and employers and moving Ontario forward in healthy and productive ways," said Ontario Labour Minister Brad Duguid. The ESA requires all workplaces regulated by the act to post the document in English and the majority language of the workplace. The poster will be available in 21 languages besides English and French, recognizing the diversity in Ontario's productive workplaces. Labour's website or by visiting a Service Ontario Centre. It can also be ordered from Service Ontario Publications, for the cost of shipping and handling. The poster is available in English, French, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Dari, Farsi, Filipino, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Oji-Cree, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Urdu and Vietnamese. Background information: Pursuant to the ESA, section 2(3), most employers will be required to post version 4.0 of "What You Should Know about The Ontario Employment Act" once it is published. From February 15 to 11, 2008, as a transition, employment standards officers may compliance orders for failure to post the new version of the poster. Notices of contravention or prosecutions may be initiated only failure to comply with a compliance order. Failure to post the version of the poster is a contravention under the act. On and after April 12, officers may use the full range of enforcement to ensure that employers are complying with the requirement post version 4.0, including issuing notices of contravention with penalties. All language versions of the poster continue to be available free by downloading it from the Ministry of New Workplace Safety DVD Distributed to All Ontario High Schools Our Youth at Work (OYAW) launched a new workplace safety DVD on September 27, 2007 to inform youth, parents and employers of the dangers young workers face when they first enter the workforce. OYAW believes this new format will enable it to reach more students more efficiently, and empower young workers to ask their employers questions so they know the risks involved in their jobs. A copy of this DVD has been sent to every high school in Ontario. For more information about Our Youth At Work, visit its web site at: http://www.oyaw.com/index.cfm?i=2852. Page 7 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail WSIB Announces Review of Experience Rating Program March 10, 2008 http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2008/10/c2446.html TORONTO, March 10 /CNW/ - Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Chair Steven Mahoney, P.C., announced today that the WSIB is conducting a review of its Experience Rating program. Also, effective immediately, if a company is responsible for a workplace fatality, they won't be eligible for a rebate from the WSIB. The review will make recommendations to modernize and strengthen the program, in areas such as: accounting for legislative non-compliance, creating a process to validate workplace health and safety performance, and a long-term plan to directly tie all incentive programs to proactive health and safety initiatives. Experience rating is a cost-based incentive program intended to promote good health and safety practices, early and safe return to work and appropriate disability management practices. In this program employers receive rebates or surcharges according to their performance based on claims costs. Under certain circumstances, it is possible for a company to have a traumatic workplace fatality and still receive a rebate from the Experience Rating program. This is because Experience Rating is a cost-based program and some fatalities do not result in high costs; for instance, if a worker didn't have dependants. "The Experience Rating program should raise the bar by rewarding excellent results in health and safety, prevention and return to work," said Mahoney. "The program has been effective in getting the results we need, but I know more can be done with Experience Rating to improve health and safety for the workers and employers of Ontario. We are strengthening this program so that it is fairer, better leverages our partners in prevention, provides direct incentives to improve health and safety, and gets us to our goal of zero injuries, illnesses and fatalities." "It is unacceptable to me that a company responsible for a fatality would still get a rebate cheque from the WSIB," said Mahoney. "Our five-year strategic plan is the Road to Zero, and that is the only acceptable number of fatalities." Mahoney also called for a review of Experience Rating to find other areas of improvement and better align the program to the Road to Zero. Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) plays a key role in the province's occupational health and safety system. The WSIB administers no-fault workplace insurance for employers and their workers and is committed to the prevention of workplace injuries and illnesses. The WSIB provides disability benefits, monitors the quality of healthcare, and assists in early and safe return to work for workers who are injured on the job or contract an occupational disease. For further information contact: Christine Arnott, WSIB Media Relations, (41 6) 344-4202, christine_arnott@wsib.on.ca Internet Resources: On-line Medical Dictionary MedicineNet.com is a free web site that has an on-line medical dictionary called, “MedTerms.” It provides an alphabetical listing of diseases and their treatments; a similar listing of medications, their uses and side effects; and a dictionary providing layperson explanations for more than 16,000 technical medical terms as defined by medical doctors. Other sections of the web site offer indexes of common symptoms and common medical procedures and tests. You can access all of this information at: www.medicinenet.com. Page 8 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance BILL 14 The Law Society of Upper Canada(LSUP) with the aid of the McGuinty Liberal Government has passed what is known as Bill 14. This Bill was to have the LSUP regulate paralegals in Ontario. However, the language in the Bill not only regulates paralegals, but with the twists and turns of all that legal jargon, it has affected our group of volunteers trying to help other Injured Workers at no charge. The Bill calls for every paralegal to be licensed and insured. The application for the license is about $500.00 and the exam is $,1000.00. If you don't pass the first time they give you a break on the second exam at a cost of $975.00, and you must carry the Errors and Omissions Insurance. (note: the costs are approx since this dates back to April of 2007) We are a non funded, not-for-profit registered organization which has been lobbying for injured workers for almost 25 years. But now, we can not represent or give legal advice to an injured worker according to this Bill. Some exemptions from being licensed and insured do exist. However, as a volunteer we can only help family, friends, or neighbours without breaking the law. This past week, I had a WSIB claims adjudicator and her manager call me and the injured worker to see if in fact we were friends. I believe that the Good Samaritans Act was put into place so that we could help one another without having the fear of breaking the law, or being scrutinized as to who is my friend or not. There is a simple solution that we have tried to have solved by means of conference calls way back to April of 2007, emails to the LSUC Paralegal Services, meetings with our MPPs, even a meeting with the former Minister of Labour. Nothing as been changed thus far. All we are simply asking, is that the "interpretation" of an injured workers group be changed from the present definition which you can find for yourself at this link (www.lsuc.on.ca/regulation/a/bylaws/bylaw4) in Section 31 (1) where it states that an exemption will be given to an injured workers group providing they are funded by WSIB, simply drop the funded by WSIB and we can advocate for injured workers and help our fellow workers. We have made it quite clear that we are NOT FUNDED, and WE DON'T CHARGE for services, and we DON'T TAKE A PERCENTAGE OF THE CLAIMS WHEN WON, nor do we EXPECT payment at all. Albeit, the LSUC has not changed the interpretation. We ask that you please support us and send a message to your MPP asking for their support in changing the interpretation, send a letter to the Premier, the LSUC, the editor of your local paper. We need strength in numbers, and lastly, we ask that you forward this to all Ontario residents in your address book. Send us a copy of the letters as well at info@tbayinjuredworkers.ca . Please, if you feel like you want to protect your right to free consultation on WSIB issues you must act now. Thanks for your time, and I look forward in hearing your thoughts and comments on this very important issue. If we let them take away your right to free representation, what will they target next, back yard mechanics? Enough is Enough! Thanks, Bob Thunder Bay & District Injured Workers Support Group 807-622-8897 // em: info@tbiw.on.ca Stakeholder Submissions on Bill 187 Interim Changes The Ontario Government passed Bill 187, the Budget Measures and Interim Appropriation Act, 2007, on May 17, 2007, which resulted in four significant changes to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, effective July 1, 2007. These changes include amendments to the cost-of-living indexing formula; opening previously locked-in 72-month Loss of Earnings (LOE) and 60-month Future Economic Loss (FEL) awards when there has been an increase in disability; replacing the concept of "deeming" with the concept of "determining" and the introduction of the concept of “availability” in employment when determining post-injury earnings; and increasing the Loss of Retirement Income (LRI) threshold from $1,166.41 to $3,000. Page 9 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail The WSIB revised existing policy documents that were affected and created a new policy. Stakeholders can provide written feedback on these interim policies until November 1, 2007. For more information on the Bill 187 consultation, visit the WSIB‟s web site at: http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/Public/Policy Bill187Consultation. For a copy of all of the WSIB Operational Policies that were amended on October 3, 2007 to incorporate the changed wording because of the above-mentioned interim policies, visit the WSIB's web site at: http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wopm.nsf/home /opmhome. TRICK QUESTION: Reproduced from a Poster from the Back Association of Canada Drawing reproduced by the talents of Kevin Turtle Which is better for your back: Lifting 10 pounds of feathers, or 10 pounds of Lead ? Most people know a few BACK BASICS when it comes to picking things up and putting them some place else. For instance: Bend your knees. Bend them, pick up the object, then straighten them up. Why? So your leg muscles – which are bigger and stronger than your back muscles – can take most of the weight. Hold objects close to your body. For example, if you lift 10 pound load with the weight 14 inches from your body, you will be lifting the equivalent of about 150 pounds! Many people don‟t realize that, when it comes to lifting, there‟s more to think about than weight. For Instance: What’s the shape of the object you are lifting? What’s its size? Does it have handles? Is it slippery, or easy to grip? Which brings us back to our trick question. A box containing ten pounds of lead is a lot easier to pick up than a box containing ten pounds of feathers because a box of lead is much smaller, and more compact. You can easily hold it close to your body, and get a good grip. MORE LIFTING TIPS: 1. Your back is strongest when its muscles are in a natural position. That is, when the normal curve in the low back is neutral, rather than exaggerated or creased. What if you must life something while your back is bent forward, or arched backward? The answer is simple. You can‟t lift as much. 2. Don‟t lift and twist at the same time. Instead, lift the object, then turn your body by moving your feet. This may sound like more effort but it isn‟t. It just takes a moment longer. 3. It‟s easier to lower a weight than to lift one. But don‟t be fooled. Many back injuries occur because people think they can lower something heavy … and then get hurt when the object falls and they must try to catch it. THE MORAL: Think ahead. Plan the lift before you begin … Not after you get into trouble. Page 10 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Sentencing for Quebec workplace death a first 2005 Accident; Transpave Inc. to learn penalty for disabling safety device Graeme Hamilton, National Post Published: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 MONTREAL - A Quebec paving-stone manufacturer is set to appear for a sentencing hearing today after becoming the first company in Canada to be convicted of criminal negligence causing death as the result of a workplace accident. In a case that is being followed in boardrooms across the country, Transpave Inc. of Saint-Eustache, north of Montreal, pleaded guilty in Quebec Court in December to a charge stemming from the 2005 death of labourer Steve L'Ecuyer. Mr. L'Ecuyer, 23, was crushed to death by machinery as he tried to clear a backlog of stones on the production line. An investigation by Quebec's health and safety board discovered that a safety device intended to prevent such an accident had been deliberately disabled for most of 2005 and 2004. The conviction is the first since the federal government amended the Criminal Code in 2004 to make it easier to charge companies for health and safety offences. The amendments were in response to the 1992 Westray mine disaster in Nova Scotia, in which 26 men were killed but no criminal convictions resulted. Cheryl Edwards, a Toronto lawyer specializing in workplace safety issues, said the Transpave case will likely lead to more criminal prosecutions. So far, Crown attorneys have been content to allow occupational health and safety tribunals decide the cases, but the Transpave case signals that a criminal conviction is possible. "When trade unions and families press very hard for action on the part of the police and Crown attorneys, generally speaking, that is influential," said Ms. Edwards, a partner with Heenan Blaikie. "When the general public gets mad about a Westray, or they get mad about a high-profile death, there's more of a tendency for the police and the Crown attorneys to say, 'No, we're not going to just leave this to the [occupational health and safety] process. We're going to treat it as a crime.' " Martin Cauchon, who was Liberal justice minister when the changes became law as Bill C-45, said he hopes news of the Transpave conviction will result in greater caution among employers. "The law is not what it used to be. The legislator is really serious about workplace safety," he said. "When I talk to the corporate world, it seems that they're still not aware of the situation. With that first conviction, even though it's a guilty plea, people will read the judgment and be more careful in the future." Mr. L'Ecuyer had just relieved a co-worker who was going on break when the fatal accident occurred on Oct. 11, 2005. He was trying to manually free stones that were blocking a machine when an apparatus used to arrange the stones on pallets descended and crushed him. Workplace-safety investigators found that a safety barrier meant to prevent the machine from operating when someone was underneath it had been disabled. Workers said it was disconnected because it was causing production slowdowns. There was also evidence that a member of management was aware of the situation but did nothing to correct it. There is no limit on the possible fine, and the Quebec Federation of Labour wants the court to levy a substantial penalty. "The court now has the duty to impose an exemplary sentence to send an unequivocal message to employers who make a mockery of the health and safety of their workers," QFL president Michel Arsenault said in a statement. Ms. Edwards said employers are taking note. "The good corporate citizens in Canada sat up in 2004, when C-45 was passed, and asked, 'How do we make sure we're compliant?' Now they're sitting up again and saying, 'Let's check again and make sure we're not doing something that contravenes the Criminal Code.' I think it's being watched nationally," she said. ghamilton@nationalpost.com Page 11 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Our Goals CIWA/ACVAMT Is about  Support We are a national network of injured worker's groups (IWG's) and we exist to strengthen and support the work of local and provincial IWG's across Canada. Independence We believe that injured workers should be in control of their own destinies & Injured Workers Groups must be democratically controlled by injured workers. Partnerships We believe that we can best assist these objectives by providing training and educational resources in partnership with provincial or territorial organizations of injured workers and the trade union movement at all levels. Information Sharing We believe that by sharing our stories and our experience we can learn from each other and become better educated and exert more control over our lives. To work towards a just system of compensation, rehabilitation and reemployment in all of Canada.  To provide a national forum for debating issues concerning injured workers at national conferences and board workshops.  To gather and share information with groups across Canada.  To improve the Occupational Health & Safety of workers across Canada.  To identify and make available, educational and training resources produced by the union movement and other agencies, that focus on organizing and maintaining effective injured worker groups.  To enhance the local base of the injured workers movement through all our activities.  To form partnerships that will achieve common goals. Publications Available  The VOICE OF INJURED WORKER  PLAIN TALK  HOW TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN INJURED WORKERS & ORGANIZED LABOUR  REPORT ON RELATIONS WITH LABOUR SESSION AT CIWA NATIONAL CONFERENCE, REGINA 1992  RETURNING TO WORK  VOC REHAB & RE-EMPLOYMENT FROM THE INJURED WORKER'S PERSPECTIVE  INJURED WORKERS … ON THE MOVE  COMING TOGETHER VIDEOS & WORKBOOKS  YOUTH PROJECT MANUAL, 2002  SURVIVORS, 1997  TOGETHER WE CAN WIN, 1997  PEER HELPER TRAINING MANUAL, 2000 - "PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE"  LE COMBAT QUOTIDIEN DES VICTIMES DU TRAVAIL, 1999 To find out more, please contact us at: CIWA/ACVAMT 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6R2 Ph: 807-345-3429/Fx: 807-344-8683 Toll Free: 1-877-787-7010 Email: ciwa@vianet.ca Web Site: www.ciwa.ca Connect with an injured workers group near you. Check out our web site at: www.ciwa.ca  OR  Call our office at (807) 345-3429 or Toll Free at 1-877-787-7010 This Newsletter is intended to share information of interest to injured workers/ groups / organizations, union activists and their supporters. It provides a forum for sharing our experiences - so we can learn from each other - in order to improve the lives of injured and disabled workers and the system that is there to assist them. Please help - by sharing your story with us. Page 12 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CIWA Highlights Newsletter Spring 2008 Description An account of the resource Announcement of winner of 50/50 draw. Reports on the state of injured workers rights in British Colombia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia. Articles on recourse for the Workers Compensation Board breaching client privacy, review of the Railway Safety Act, a new Employment Standards Act poster for workplaces in Ontario, new workplace safety video sent out to Ontario high schools, a review of the WSIB Experience Rating Program, a digital medical dictionary, Bill 14, changes to Bill 187, tips for safe lifting, the sentencing of the first corporation in Canada to be convicted of criminal negligence causing death in a workplace accident. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource CIWA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Subject The topic of the resource Labour and Labour Unions https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/3dd44c982b1cdf43a369b322f93b384e.pdf 4dc85d1172aed7e75ee16bbabf8ef384 PDF Text Text CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL SALES AGREEMENT #1685422 Knowledge Exchange and Translation (KET) The Canadian Injured Workers Alliance is leading a project in collaboration with researchers from the University of Western Ontario, the University of Toronto and McMaster University which received developmental funding for a one year project through the WSIB Research Advisory council. The goal of this project is to examine the role of IWG’s in interpreting and communicating policy, insurance, support, health, and research information to injured workers. The project’s focus will to find out what IWG’s needs are in providing information, as well as how information is shared and how information can be put into useful formats for use by injured workers. Strategies that IWG’s and other groups involved in knowledge exchange with other consumers will also be examined. Ultimately, the information collected through this project will lead to the development of a larger study involving a large survey to evaluate injured workers’ use of information and knowledge in decision-making and which approaches best support getting the information into the hands of injured workers. PARTICIPATION: If you take part in this study, you will be involved in a focus group with up to 9 others who provide information that injured workers need and request. If you are interested in taking part in this Focus Group, please contact us. Phone: 1-877-787-7010 / Fax: 807-344-8683 / Email: ciwa@vianet.ca We look forward to hearing from you. NOTICE We have cancelled our post office box, and will only be receiving mail at our physical address. Please change your records to reflect that only this address will be used: 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, ON. P7B 6R2 Table of Contents CIWA/ACVAMT Contacts ...................................... 2 CIWAY Contacts, Web Sites to Visit ....................... 3 Page 1 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail PLEASE HELP ………… S U B S C R I B E T O D A Y ! Name: ________________________________ Date: Organization: ________________________________ Address: ________________________________ Highlights is published 4 times per year ________________________________ Injured Worker/Unemployed $ 5.00 __________ Postal Code ________________________________ Individuals $ 10.00 __________ Phone ________________________________ Organizations $ 15.00 __________ Fax ________________________________ Donations $ E-Mail ________________________________ Total Web Site ________________________________ CIWA THANKS YOU for Your SUPPORT! ________________________________ Newsletter Subscription: $ __________ __________ Editor’s Note This newsletter is distributed via email, fax, or mail to CIWA/ACVAMT members and groups with an interest in injured worker issues as resource tool to share and exchange information. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the individuals or groups making submissions. We take no responsibility for their accuracy or for their opinions. You are welcome to share and distribute this newsletter with others that are interested. It is also available on our website at www.ciwa.ca. PROVINCIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF CIWA/ACVAMT VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS… EXECUTIVE OFFICERS… President ... Secretary … Treasurer … SK ... Robert Lindsay, Regina Western Injured Workers Society NS... Dave MacKenzie, Westville Pictou County PEI ... Leonard J. Crawford, Summerside ON ... Gerry Landry, Thunder Bay Ontario Network of Injured Worker Groups AB... Sherri Scott, Fort MacMurray NL... Clive Hamilton, Labrador City Rob Lindsay Leonard J. Crawford Dave MacKenzie ADVISORS… Vincent Boyce, Injured Worker, Manitoba Andy King, U.S.W.A. Lynn Shaw, University of Western Ontario Patti MacAhonic, BC Injured Workers and Survivors Education Association STAFF… Phil Brake, National Coordinator Monika Wiitala, Office Manager L’ALLIANCE CANADIENNE DES VICTIMES D’ACCIDENTS ET DE MALADIES DU TRAVAIL CANADIAN INJURED WORKERS ALLIANCE Phone: 807-345-3429 Fax: 807-344-8683 Page 2 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, Ontario. P7B 6R2 Toll Free: 1-877-787-7010 email: ciwa@vianet.ca Web-site: www.ciwa.ca �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Canadian Injured Workers Alliance of YOUTH (CIWAY) BOARD OF DIRECTORS – Since MARCH 2004 PRESIDENT TARA DORVAL VICE PRESIDENT DUSTIN EASTMAN SECRETARY JULIE SHOEMAKER TREASURER JESSICA BELANGER Thunder Bay, ON Regina, SK Sommerset, MB Winnipeg, MB BOARD MEMBERS / Provincial Reps ANDREW BACCHUS DAWN HAMILTON PAIGE MOORE AMANDA PERREAULT DEAN RUDD LILI TRINH SCOTT WOLBAUM JAMIE WOODHOUSE Toronto, ON Labrador City, NF Montague, PEI Brampton, ON Whitehorse, YT Toronto, ON Regina, SK Winnipeg, MB For information on how to contact any of the above provincial representatives, please contact our office in Thunder Bay, Ontario at 807-345-3429, or toll free: 1-877-7877010, fax: 807-344-8683, email: ciwa@vianet.ca or visit our website at www.ciwa.ca Message from the National Coordinator / President SDPP/D funding has historically been a critical component of CIWA’s operating budget. This has enabled us to achieve our annual objectives, maintain an operating National Office, hold bi-annual BOD meetings, provide services and materials to the public and IWG’s, acquire new IWG members, support the creation of new Injured Workers Groups in Alberta and B.C., and bring forward proposals on matters relevant to our mandate. Some of our recent and upcoming activities include the following: 1. Continued partnerships include the following: Round Table Project – Dr. Celeste Johnson, Robert Lindsay, CIWA Rep Canadian Pain Coalition KET Project - Lynn Shaw, OT, University of Western Ontario, Robert Lindsay, and Phil Brake, CIWA Reps, Peter Page, ONIWG, Colin Argyle, OFL, Sylvia Boyce / Andy King, Steelworkers Council of Canadians with Disabilities 2. We attended the ―End Exclusion‖ Forum, ―Building and Inclusive and Accessible Canada‖ in Ottawa, on November 2, 2006 hosted by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities. 3. RIDEAU CANAL / INTERNATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING – APRIL 28, 2007 The Ottawa & District Injured Workers Group (ODIWG) and Mr. Kevin Dooley (WCB Pensioner) of the Canal Workers Commemorative Group of Ottawa plan and hope to have the Canal, which is currently a National Parks Historic site, to be declared a World Heritage Site in 2007. This will be the 175th Anniversary of the completion of the Canal. Events are planned in conjunction with the International Day of Mourning and plan to raise awareness and monies/donations which will be shared with the ODIWG, and the Ottawa Valley Head Injury Association. 4. ―Building worker capacity for participation and collaboration for achieving Return to Work (RTW) success‖. A revised proposal focusing on RTW and the gaps that exist. This proposal is to compliment collaborative research already in progress between CIWA, the NW Ontario School of Occupational Therapy, other rehab clinics, universities, the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists, the Institute for Work & Health, the WSIB, the National Centre of Audiology. This research emphasizes and Occupational Science perspective that considers a holistic approach addressing the person/injured worker, the occupation, and the environment to investigate strategies and approaches to support more effective RTW. 5. ―Rob coauthoring book w/Lynn‖. CIWA has been asked to coauthor a Page 3 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Group Demands Recognition of Disability Caused by Toxins in the Environment MONTREAL, November 23, 2006 The Allergy and Environmental Health Association of Quebec (AEHAQ) presented a Petition for the recognition of disability and immediate adequate support for people made ill from environmental exposures and was tabled in the National Assembly of Quebec on Thursday, November 23, 2006 by Mrs. Yolande James, Member of the National Assembly for Nelligan. The Petition reads as follows: "We, the undersigned residents of Quebec, call upon the Government of Quebec to: - formally acknowledge and recognize the disability caused by Environmental Illness, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Syndrome; - establish centers for research, education, diagnosis, treatment and testing for toxins in the human body; - ensure safe adequate accommodation in hospitals; - homecare support; - recognition in the workplace; - affordable, environmentally-safe housing and emergency shelters; and, - offer immediate help for the chemically injured across Quebec. Contact:Ms. Rohini Peris - President, Mr. Michel Gaudet - Vice President, Ms. Paula Mckeown – Secretary Tel: (514) 683-5701 Email: aeha-quebec.ca More information on chemical sensitivities can be found at: http://aeha-quebec.ca The following definition of ―Environmental Sensitivities‖ has been copied from the website at: http://aeha-quebec.ca Environmental sensitivities can occur when people become sensitive to substances or phenomena in their everyday environment at levels well below what would be considered to be acceptable to "normal" people. Sensitivity reactions can be triggered by scented products, cleaning products, laundry detergents, paints, petrochemicals, cigarette smoke, pesticides, pets, plants, fuels, electromagnetic radiation, molds and foods. are able to find a safe environment in which to live and work, and if they can obtain (and afford) treatments that are both tolerable and effective for them. Sadly, despite skills and education, some people with sensitivities end up on social assistance. Many become socially isolated as they are forced to retreat from places and activities they love, and for some, the devastation extends to losing spouses, family and friends who may not believe that they are ill. The effect of environmental sensitivities can be overwhelming. Productive people may suddenly or gradually become unable to tolerate offices, homes, schools, hospitals and public places. Employers, who may or may not be aware of the problem, may refuse to make the accommodations necessary to allow people affected to continue working in safety. Many people with sensitivities lose their jobs if they are not provided with the accommodations they need to work productively. Some become homeless. All too often, retirement savings are depleted and debts are incurred in an attempt to create safe living conditions and to fund the cost of treatment. Treatment of these problems can be expensive and difficult to obtain, and includes avoidance of offending agents. Some people with sensitivities do improve after many years if they The disability may be invisible, but it is real. Like others with disabilities, persons with sensitivities have special needs which include, but are not limited to: housing in a safe and tolerable environment so that their bodies can heal, well-tolerated, environmentally safe products available at a reasonable cost, consumer self-help groups, a support system, tolerable meeting places, publicly funded treatments, safe hospitals, schools and other pubic facilities, and accommodation in the workplace. Like all Canadians, we are entitled to freedom from discriminatory treatment, which includes the right to accessible workplaces, accommodation and public facilities. Notably, environmental sensitivities have been recognized as disabilities by the Canadian Human Rights Commission and many provincial human rights commissions. Page 4 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Federal Government Cuts Funding Tuesday, September 26, 2006 Summarized from the publication entitled: ―A Voice of Our Own‖, from the Council of Canadians with Disabilities. Website: www.ccdonline.ca Here are some of the programs there were cut from the federal budget:  Court Challenges Program - $5.6 Million. o The Court Challenges Program of Canada provided funding to ordinary Canadians to undertake constitutional challenges against federal laws or programs – such as Workers’ Compensation.  Youth Employment - $55.6 million o Some youth employment agencies received federal funding for part of their budgets.  Industrial Programs - $42.2 million. o Technology Partnerships Canada  Medical marijuana research program - $4 million  Adult Learning and Literacy Skills Program $ 17.7 million o Non-profit organizations received this for development programs and research. Court Challenges Program and Other Programs Cut Abolition of the Court Challenges Program (CCP) and others announced in the fall of 2006 has upset many. A website campaign has been developed at: http://www.savecourtchallenges.ca where you can find out more on what you can do, and all about the CCP program. In brief: The Court Challenges Program (CCP) was established in 1978 to supply limited funds for selected test cases for official minority language cases based on sections 93 and 133 of the Constitution Act, 1867. There are many cases where funding was provided to plaintiffs or interveners in order for ordinary Canadians to have access to the court system and have their voices heard and their Right considered when government laws and policies failed to take into account their needs and aspirations. The CCP has been successful in a number of important court cases that have had direct impacts on the implementation of linguistic and equality rights in Canada. By cutting this program, the Canadian Government is saying yes to continued discrimination against persons with disabilities and unfairly limiting Canada’s Constitutional Rights only to the wealthy. If ordinary Canadians cannot use their rights because of financial barriers, then Canada’s Constitutional democracy is hollow. The CCP has an established track record as an effective and accountable institution that promotes access to justice. Their website contains reports and statistics on its activities. During the last election campaign, Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated that if elected, a Conservative government would ―articulate Canada’s core values on the world stage,‖ including ―the rule of law‖, ―human rights‖ and ―compassion for the less fortunate.‖ By cancelling the CCP, the government is basically indicating that those deserving the Right to be heard in order to live on an equal footing with others, will not and do not deserve to be heard. AN IRISH FRIENDSHIP WISH: May May May May May May there always be work for your hands to do; your purse always hold a coin or two; the sun always shine on your windowpane; a rainbow be certain to follow each rain; the hand of a friend always be near you; God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. Page 5 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Health/Labour Man lives with lead poisoning Endured hazardous working conditions for years Deana Stokes Sullivan, The Telegram (St. John's) Front, Sunday, January 14, 2007, p. A1 When Charlie Thompson began working in the early 1970s, repairing and painting automobile radiators, he had no idea of the occupational hazards associated with his work. He felt fortunate to have a steady job that paid decent wages. But after years of inhaling fumes and dust from lead-based solder and the vapours of automotive paint, Thompson began experiencing numerous symptoms, including severe headaches. "I used to have to come home from work, take 222s and cover my head in blankets, I was in so much pain," Thompson recalls. Thompson, 52, and two co-workers repaired radiators in an automotive shop. Three torches were going all day, he said, soldering in a small room, measuring about 35 by 40 feet. Lead solder was used up until 1994. recently, a separate paint booth was constructed on the site. Thompson filed a claim for workers' compensation in 1993, but it took almost a decade for his symptoms to be recognized as an occupational illness. He was removed from the workplace in 2001, but his blood lead levels are still above normal. The result of blood testing last year showed a lead reading of 0.796 micromoles per litre (umol/L), where the normal reference should be zero to 0.48. Thompson was also found to have higher-than-normal levels of cadmium and zinc in his blood. Large radiators, averaging 500 to 800 pounds, had to be lifted through a door to the room and after the soldering job was completed, they were often painted with potent automotive coatings, using lacquers and thinners. A letter dated July 18, 2001 from the provincial labour department's Workplace Health and Safety Inspections division to Budden, Morris Barristers and Solicitors, representing the Transportation and Allied Workers Union, states that Dr. Jacques Levesque of New Brunswick, "was very clear in pointing out that in his opinion, three of the workers have chronic ill-health effects related to long-term lead exposure." Levesque is a lead expert who assessed the workers. Thompson said at times the clouds of dust and fumes were so thick he couldn't see his co-workers, who were just 20 feet away from him. Thompson blames a lack of action by Occupational Health and Safety for allowing his illness to progress to the point of impairing his cognitive abilities Besides the headaches, he experienced other health problems, including high blood pressure, kidney stones, gastrointestinal problems, muscle deterioration and pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition affecting ligaments, nerves and bones in the arms and wrists. "The way I feel, I didn't get injured on the job, I got poisoned," he said. Blood testing for lead absorption wasn't conducted on the employees until the mid 1980s. Around 1988, Occupational Health and Safety conducted a workplace inspection and made recommendations for a ventilation system to improve the conditions. After numerous other inspections and air testing, which showed elevated airborne lead levels, the workers were given respirators and, more Page 6 The Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (WHSCC), which eventually accepted that Thompson suffered damage from lead exposure in his workplace, said in a labour market referral report last year, "Mr. Thompson's restrictions are mentally, more than physically. He has had lead exposure which has resulted in cognitive deficits, problems with new learnings, etc." Trish Dodd of the province's injured workers' association wishes Occupational Health and Safety and the WHSCC would recognize the other physical health implications from Thompson's lead exposure. �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Lead is absorbed by the bones and organs and accumulates in the body, causing numerous symptoms besides cognitive problems, Dodd said. Thompson's case was presented to the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission as well as the province's citizens' representative office, which has been investigating how Occupational Health and Safety handled his case. A document from Dr. Levesque, included in the Human Rights Commission report, says Thompson cannot return to work in a lead-contaminated work environment. "This recommendation has to be considered as a formal permanent work restriction and is supported both by the physical and neuropsychological evidence available in his medical record," Levesque wrote. While not considering Thompson totally disabled from any type of employment on a permanent basis, Levesque went on to say that his reinsertion into the workforce in another capacity may be problematic, if not met by some degree of failure, given his age, limited past work experience and academic training, cognitive and emotional deficits, and current physical ailments. Dodd said despite this assessment, in 2003 the WHSCC decided to reduce Thompson's disability pay by about $400 a week, on the basis that he could potentially work as a light duty cleaner, leaving him with only about $250 a week. She said the commission obviously didn't consider that cleaners work with chemicals, which could further jeopardize Thompson's health. Dodd plans to continue working on Thompson's behalf with the hope that he will get full extended earnings loss, based on his physical and mental disabilities from lead exposure. When Thompson left his job, he was earning about $40,000 a year. In addition to losing earnings, he also lost health and medical benefits. He said the impact his occupational illness has had on his life and his family has been immeasurable. If his wife didn't work, he'd never be able to live on his workers' compensation payments, he said. For years, Thompson said, he has had trouble sleeping because of muscle and bone pain, and he often has to resort to taking medications before going to bed. "It has left my whole life, financially, emotionally and personally, in ruins." dss@thetelegram.com © 2007 The Telegram (St. John's). All rights reserved. Deana Stokes Sullivan, Health reporter The Telegram P.O. Box 5970 Columbus Drive St. John's, Nfld. A1C 5X7 Tel: 709-364-2323 or 709-364-6300 EXT. 325 Remember: You have the right to refuse unsafe work! Page 7 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Wednesday, September 20, 2006 Error cost $1.5M By DEANA STOKES SULLIVAN, The Telegram A group of workers on long-term disability received more than $1.5 million in retroactive pay and interest from the provincial Workplace Health Safety and Compensation Commission (WHSCC) last year, all because of an error in calculating consumer price index adjustments. The error dates back to 1994, and by the time it was corrected, some of the claimants had passed away. The fact the mistake wasn’t detected for 11 years has the Newfoundland and Labrador Injured Workers’ Association calling for more accountability at the WHSCC. The commission, however, says it acted quickly when the error was discovered and promptly paid up. The error was picked up in a claim review, a WHSCC spokeswoman confirmed Monday. She said it originated from one per cent being applied as a consumer price index (CPI) — or cost-of-living — adjustment in 1994 instead of 1.9 per cent. The WHSCC policy manual states that long-term disability benefits are fully indexed to the annual change in the CPI for Canada. The CPI measures inflationary changes in the cost of products and services. The 1994 error had an accumulative effect on indexation calculations for subsequent years until it was corrected in 2005. The error affected 1,448 active claims for what the commission terms extended earnings loss or long-term disability. In cases where claimants had passed away, money owing was paid to their estates, the commission said. The amount paid to fix the error is said to have been roughly $1.56 million — $1.35 million owed to claimants plus approximately $214,000 in interest. According to the WHSCC, the average individual payout was about $800 and the maximum was about $2,100, including interest. Cheques were sent by midMay last year. Trish Dodd of the injured workers’ association said she’s aware of much larger retroactive amounts being paid out. She has a letter from the WHSCC dated Feb. 16, 2005, referencing a payout of more than $21,000 to an injured worker which explains that the person’s longterm disability benefits were not indexed properly because the CPI rate wasn’t calculated properly. Page 8 ―The letter doesn’t give any other reason,‖ Dodd said, adding if there were other errors, that just backs up her point that there needs to be more accountability to ensure that claimants are compensated properly. She said she was surprised to be contacted about the indexation error personally last year by Ann Marie Hann, then chief executive officer of the WHSCC. In the 11 years during which the error went unchecked, there were several chief executive officers and board appointments to the commission. Hann, who assumed the top position with the WHSCC in 2000, is no longer with the organization. She was replaced in June 2005 by Joe O’Neill, who continues to be acting chief executive officer. The WHSCC said his appointment last year was on an interim basis while it went about recruiting a permanent CEO. Although the indexation error has now been corrected, Dodd said she wonders what other errors might be slipping through and where accountability is at the WHSCC, especially considering that it was an injured worker questioning his claim who caused the error to be detected. The WHSCC spokeswoman said a process has since been put into place to double check CPI indexation amounts every year for long-term disability claimants. She said the error and resulting payout have not had any affect on employer’s assessment rates. ―We called employers. We were proactive and very upfront and honest to explain the error,‖ she said. Dodd said the injured workers group wants the provincial auditor general to review the commission’s financial affairs. Auditor General John Noseworthy’s annual reports have raised concerns about the commission’s unfunded liability in recent years. In the WHSCC’s 2005 annual report, its unfunded liability was reported to be $139.2 million. It was $160.1 million in 2004. In its response to the auditor general’s inquiries, the WHSCC said one of its key financial objectives is to eliminate its unfunded liability by 2020. In 2001, it stood at more than $200 million. dss@thetelegram.com �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Chronic Pain: 'It’s not in people’s heads' An article from: The ChronicleHerald.ca (Halifax, NS – May 16/06) MEMBERTOU — Chronic pain is real, and health professionals have to get that message across, an expert in the field says. "It’s not in people’s heads, it’s not just that they’re trying to get out of things they don’t like to do. It’s that they have real physical pain and we now understand chronic pain to be a neural response to tissue injury," said Dr. Mary Lynch, interim director of the QEII Health Sciences Centre’s pain management unit. Dr. Lynch was the keynote speaker at the recent third annual Pain Day conference at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre, where seven doctors spoke to other health professionals about chronic-pain management. Topics included the use of narcotics in palliative care and in treating non-cancer pain, as well as reviews of hip, knee and ankle pain. Dr. Lynch said the problem of chronic pain is dismissed because ours is a pain-denying culture and the problem costs a lot to alleviate. "The human suffering alone and the economic burden that comes with that is huge. You’ll see insurers and policy-makers and workers’ compensation boards trying to deny that it’s real." She said the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia can no longer deny the problem is real since a 2003 Supreme Court of Canada ruling that workers with chronic pain are eligible to be assessed for longterm benefits. Conference moderator Dr. Robert MacNeill, who works in pain management at Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney, said the service is under-funded in Nova Scotia, resulting in longer waiting times. "If you have slower access to diagnostic services or specialists you tend to build a greater population of people that would have chronic pain," he said. "Long wait lists is our biggest headache." gmacvicar@herald.ca) Chronic Pain Awards ? PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND Mr. Clarence Fraser, of the PEI Coalition of Injured Workers Group would like to know whether the Supreme Court of Canada decision of Martin & LaSeur, October 3, 2003 has had any effect on other provinces in regard to awards for Chronic Pain and which version of the AMA Guidelines to Permanent Impairment are used. If there has been a percentage given for chronic pain, as was initially allowed in WCAT No 915A in Ontario, please let us know. A copy of the PMI policy indicating how workers are compensated for a permanent impairment on PEI is available by contacting Clarence Fraser @ cfraser@islandtelecom.com or the CIWA office. ONTARIO: Submitted by: Francis M. Bell, of TBWISE: PI assessments for workers injured from January 2, 1990 are completed via the Third edition (b) of the AMA Guides for Impairment Ratings. The WSIB has reviewed and determined that they will not move to newer versions of the AMA guide. Workers who have pension claims are rated via the "The Ontario Rating Schedule" guide. NOVA SCOTIA: It has been over 2 years since the ruling of Martin & LaSeur in the Supreme Court of Canada and individuals eligible for the Chronic Pain award, are still waiting. Some have actually won their cases through all three stages of the Appeals Tribunal, and the Workers’ Compensation Board has actually found ways of going against these rulings and not paying the award out as ordered by the courts or tribunals. THE FIFTH ESTATE We have acquired the direct phone line of the Executive Producer of the 5th Estate, Mr. David Studer. Anyone having a problem concerning issues with their provincial workers compensation board, should leave Mr. Studer a brief voice mail concerning their case. Perhaps if they receive enough information, then will they pay attention and help injured workers receive their due benefits. ALBERTA The Edmonton Sun covered a story over 2 pages in November 2006 from Sherri Scott July 2006 Page 9 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Alberta continues to grow at explosive rates, especially in the oilsands construction industry, providing employment for many Canadians and foreigners alike. Alberta companies tout environmentally friendly policies and procedures however are throwing their injured workers to the streets. With over 200,000 workers being injured every year, of which approximately 20-25% are serious, career changing or disabling injuries. 95% of these cases never receive a penny from their WCB claims and are forced to welfare after selling their homes to provide for their families in an attempt to 'hang on' while their claims are processed. The injured worker’s family is put under incredible hardship and duress as they usually end up loosing their homes, their families through divorce and are financially destroyed as a result. Due to the depression that accompanies the loss of control in their life, along with the above complications in an injured workers life, it is no wonder that in Alberta five percent of these cases end in the injured worker committing suicide. The Canadian Injured Worker's Group is working towards building bridges between the injured workers, Alberta Construction Association and these companies who employ these injured workers with a common goal of less injuries on the jobsite, and the employer taking responsibility for their injured workers. As this is a huge project, requiring years to implement, thousands of volunteers, and incredible financial support, as our starting point, we are approaching the companies for their support and financial backing to build an Injured Workers support/information centre in Alberta. Fort McMurray is the choosen location, as it is the hub of the oilsands, and would be the perfect location as a means of educating all individuals involved (whether it be the injured worker, the family members of an injured worker, health care professionals, employment agencies, and employers) in all topics that concern both the employer and the injured worker's. CanadaHelps.org CanadaHelps is a unique Canadian donor portal, that offers a low-cost online fundraising option for Canadian charities. They operate on the premise that facilitating online donations is rendered most cost-effective by using electronic fund transfer (EFT) and electronic communication methods. Using EFT, all the funds, minus a 3% transaction fee, are transferred directly to the charity's bank account on a weekly basis. Email communication provides the charity with real-time reporting and notification of each donation made on the site. While we list all 78,000 charities, only those that register with us can proactively use our services, download donation data, and update their profiles on the CanadaHelps.org portal. http://www.techsoup.org/ TechSoup Stock connects nonprofits and public libraries with donated and discounted technology products. Choose from over 240 products from companies such as Microsoft, Adobe, and Symantec. They also conduct surveys, discussion forums, educational sessions on technology and many other topics. Remember: A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort! Herm Albright Page 10 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Our Goals CIWA/ACVAMT Is about SUPPORT We are a national network of injured worker's groups (IWG's) and we exist to strengthen and support the work of local and provincial IWG's across Canada.  To work towards a just  INDEPENDENCE We believe that injured workers should be in control of their own destinies & Injured Workers Groups must be democratically controlled by injured workers.  PARTNERSHIPS  We believe that we can best assist these objectives by providing training and educational resources in partnership with provincial or territorial organizations of injured workers and the trade union movement at all levels.   INFORMATION SHARING We believe that by sharing our stories and our experience we can learn from each other and become better educated and exert more control over our lives.  system of compensation, rehabilitation and reemployment in all of Canada. To provide a national forum for debating issues concerning injured workers at national conferences and board workshops. To gather and share information with groups across Canada. To improve the Occupational Health & Safety of workers across Canada. To identify and make available, educational and training resources produced by the union movement and other agencies, that focus on organizing and maintaining effective injured worker groups. To enhance the local base of the injured workers movement through all our activities. To form partnerships that will achieve common goals. Publications Available         The VOICE OF INJURED WORKER PLAIN TALK HOW TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN INJURED WORKERS & ORGANIZED LABOUR REPORT ON RELATIONS WITH LABOUR SESSION AT CIWA NATIONAL CONFERENCE, REGINA 1992 RETURNING TO WORK VOC REHAB & RE-EMPLOYMENT FROM THE INJURED WORKER'S PERSPECTIVE INJURED WORKERS … ON THE MOVE COMING TOGETHER VIDEOS & WORKBOOKS  YOUTH PROJECT MANUAL, 2002  SURVIVORS, 1997  TOGETHER WE CAN WIN, 1997  PEER HELPER TRAINING MANUAL, 2000 - "PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE"  LE COMBAT QUOTIDIEN DES VICTIMES DU TRAVAIL, 1999 To find out more, please contact us at: CIWA/ACVAMT P.O. Box 10098, 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6R2 Ph: 807-345-3429 Fx: 807-344-8683 Toll Free: 1-877-787-7010 Email: ciwa@vianet.ca Web Site: www.ciwa.ca Connect with an injured workers group near you. Check out our web site at: www.ciwa.ca and click on "Who to Contact"  OR  Call our office at (807) 345-3429 or Toll Free at 1-877-787-7010 This Newsletter is intended to share information of interest to injured workers/ groups / organizations, union activists and their supporters. It provides a forum for sharing our experiences - so we can learn from each other - in order to improve the lives of injured and disabled workers and the system that is there to assist them. Please help - by sharing your story with us. Printed by CUPE 87 / Imprimé par le SCFP 87 Page 11 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CIWA Highlights Newsletter Fall 2006 Description An account of the resource Message from the president about the use of the CIWA's budget and events. Articles about a IWA research project on the IWA's role in interpreting and communicating policy, a petition for the recognition of injuries caused by toxins in the environment, cuts to the Federal government's budget, reactions to the Court Challenges Program being cut, a man who is living with lead poisoning, an error made by the WHSCC that resulted in injured workers being awarded $1.5M, chronic pain. An Irish Friendship Wish. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource CIWA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2006 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Subject The topic of the resource Labour and Labour Unions https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/8a9d08b576cf894e003db13672071ff2.pdf 689bc11057ef720a89065ce981e49354 PDF Text Text CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL SALES AGREEMENT #1685422 Chronic Pain – Research Study: “Exploring Barriers to & Strategies for Enabling Return to Work/Return to Function (RTW/RTF) for persons with Chronic Disability” If you have: - a CHRONIC DISABILITY - been OFF WORK for TWO YEARS or longer We would like to interest you in participating in a research study on Return to Work and Return to Function. Research Process: - complete & return a Consent and Contact Form - participate in a telephone interview If you are planning a board meeting, a public meeting or social gathering this month, we would be very appreciative, if you could pass this message on to anyone and everyone. If you would like to participate, or know of anyone interested in participating, please contact the CIWA office or. University of Western Ontario – Lynn Shaw, MSc. OT Reg. (ON) PhD, Principal Investigator for the Study. Phone: 1-519-661-2111, ext 88971. Toll free: 1-866876-3124 or EMAIL: leshaw@uvo.ca The deadline is quickly approaching ! We look forward to hearing from you. Table of Contents CIWA/ACVAMT Contacts ...................................... 2 CIWAY Contacts, Youth at Risk .............................. 3 CIWA/ACVAMT Activities .....................................4, 6 Miscellaneous .......................................................13 Letters .................................................................14 CIWA/ACVAMT Info ..............................................16 Page 1 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail PLEASE HELP ………… S U B S C R I B E T O D A Y ! Name: ________________________________ Date: Organization: ________________________________ Address: ________________________________ Highlights is published 4 times per year ________________________________ Injured Worker/Unemployed $ 5.00 __________ Postal Code ________________________________ Individuals $ 10.00 __________ Phone ________________________________ Organizations $ 15.00 __________ Fax ________________________________ Donations $ E-Mail ________________________________ Total Web Site ________________________________ THANKS for Your SUPPORT! ________________________________ Newsletter Subscription: __________ $ __________ Editor’s Note This newsletter is for sharing and exchanging information. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the individuals or groups making submissions. We take no responsibility for their accuracy or for their opinions. PROVINCIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF CIWA/ACVAMT VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS… EXECUTIVE OFFICERS… SK ... Robert Lindsay, Regina Western Injured Workers Society (Sask.) President Secretary Treasurer MB… Vincent Boyce, Winnipeg NS... Dave MacKenzie, Pictou County PEI ... Leonard J. Crawford, Summerside Rob Lindsay Lee Harrison Vincent Boyce ADVISORS… Andy King, U.S.W.A. Orlando Buonastella & Marion Endicott, Injured Workers Consultants STAFF… Phil Brake, National Coordinator Monika Wiitala, Office Manager L’ALLIANCE CANADIENNE DES VICTIMES D’ACCIDENTS ET DE MALADIES DU TRAVAIL MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 10098 Thunder Bay, Ontario. P7B 6T6 Phone: 807-345-3429 Fax: 807-344-8683 . Page 2 CANADIAN INJURED WORKERS ALLIANCE Toll Free 1-877-787-7010 STREET ADDRESS 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 6R2 email: ciwa@vianet.ca Web-site: www.ciwa.ca �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Canadian Injured Workers Alliance of Youth (CIWAY) BOARD OF DIRECTORS – MARCH 2004 PRESIDENT TARA DORVAL VICE PRESIDENT DUSTIN EASTMAN SECRETARY JULIE SHOEMAKER TREASURER JESSICA BELANGER BOARD MEMBERS / Provincial Reps ANDREW BACCHUS Toronto, ON DAWN HAMILTON Labrador City, NF PAIGE MOORE Montague, PEI AMANDA PERREAULT Brampton, ON DEAN RUDD Whitehorse, YT LILI TRINH Toronto, ON SCOTT WOLBAUM Regina, SK JAMIE WOODHOUSE Winnipeg, MB Thunder Bay, ON Regina, SK Sommerset, MB Winnipeg, MB For information on how to contact any of the above provincial representatives, please contact our office in Thunder Bay, Ontario at 807-345-3429, or toll free: 1-877-787-7010, fax: 807-344-8683, email: ciwa@vianet.ca or visit our website at www.ciwa.ca Youth at Risk National Union / Straight Goods - July 26, 2005 www.nupge.ca / www.straightgoods.com Young workers have higher injury, fatality rates in the workplace. In Ontario, seven young workers under age 25 died from traumatic injures or other “immediate causes” and 49,000 were injured on the job in 2004. The most common injuries suffered by young workers from 1996 – 1999 were: - Loss of body part by amputation or avulsion (torn off) - Fractures; - Chemical, heat and electrical burns; - Strains and sprains; and - Abrasions, contusions, blisters, and fraction burns. View winning videos from the WSIB’s annual Ontario Workplace Safety Student Video Awards contest online at: http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/public/PreventionStudentVideoContest Our Deepest Sympathy To Orlando Buonastella and his family for the loss of his wife and partner, Shelley Thomson. Many of you probably know Orlando from his many years of helping Injured Workers, and a long time Advisor to CIWA/ACVAMT. Shelley died from cancer on Wednesday, August 17, 2005. Shelley supported a clean environment approach to the prevention of cancer and related diseases. With Sincerest Condolences from: The Board of Directors and Staff of the Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Page 3 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail CIWA/ACVAMT Activities Next Board of Directors Meeting - October 2005, Winnipeg, MB Chronic Pain – Research Study: “Exploring Barriers to & Strategies for Enabling Return to Work/Return to Function (RTW/RTF) for persons with Chronic Disability” CIWA/ACVAMT is currently working in collaboration with members of a research team from the University of Western Ontario, headed up by Lynn Shaw, MSc. OT Reg. (ON) PhD, the Principal Investigator for a Research Study to examine the system and community barriers persons with chronic disabilities face in trying to access services and supports. The outcome of this research is to help create strategies to address barriers and to move systems towards supporting early RTW and occupation. For more information on how you can participate in this research study please contact the CIWA office or Lynn Shaw. (Contact info on cover page) Empowering participation through collaboration and partnering in the community and in the employment process CIWA is the lead organization and has partnered with Roundtable (RT) on Return to Work and Function (RTW/RTF), the school of Occupational Therapy at the University of Western Ontario, and the Ontario society of Occupational Therapists. Full inclusion in society for persons with disabilities ((PWD) includes the right to partner with others in the community to secure meaningful employment. Research has consistently demonstrated that effective collaboration between providers, agencies, employers and PWD is significantly easier to theorize than deliver. Key to the process of equitable participation are mutual efforts of PWD and disability support personnel (DSP), which may include employment specialists at the system and agency levels, employers, support workers, and rehabilitation professionals. For PWD, a partnering role involves making choices, exercising influence over decisions, and fulfilling teamwork responsibilities. For DSP, this entails facilitating collaboration and taking steps to optimize the social, practice and community environments for partnering. However, PWD who are unemployed, experience a multitude of occupational injustices that marginalize their efforts to assume a full partnering role. Providers indicate that inadequate resources and training limit the full implementation of empowering approaches. This project will seek to address these systemic barriers to participation and improve the capacity and coherence of PWD and DSP efforts in securing the rights of PWD to partnering and collaboration throughout the disability employment support context. Round Table Project “Creation of a Collaborative Centre on People, Health, and Work” CIWA has entered into a collaborative agreement with the Roundtable Project (RTP) with CIWA being the lead applicant in this initiative. Graham Lowe PhD, Canada’s leader in Health and Productivity, the evaluator of the Round Project Report recommended that the RTP must transform from a Project of the Ontario Medical Foundation to a formal institution capable of fostering and leading the Page 4 implementation of the activities that will bring about this change. The purpose of this project is to take the steps needed to transform the RTP into a more permanent organization as an incorporated, non-profit agency. CIWA is committed to guide the RTP through this transformation and the RTP is committed to undertake the steps needed to ensure this is accomplished. �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Newfoundland Labrador Widows and Lost Pensions Submitted by: Patricia Dodd, Newfoundland & Labrador Injured Workers Story by Tara Bradbury Mullowney, The Telegram. The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador has ruled that a Human Rights Commission board of inquiry has jurisdiction to hear a case involving three widows and lost pensions. On Sept. 23, the court struck down the application by the Human Rights Commission, whose board of inquiry had said it did not have the jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter. Discrimination complaint In July 2001, three women whose husbands had died in industrial accidents many years earlier, filed complaints with the Human Rights Commission alleging they had been discriminated against by the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission because of their marital status. Ineligible after remarrying Each of the women had received their husband’s pension until they remarried, since legislation at the time stated that once they were remarried, they were no longer eligible. In 1993, the legislation changed, and allowed the women to reapply for their late husbands’ pension. However, these benefits began from the date of the application. In an effort to make the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act comply with the Canadian Charter of Rights, the act was then implemented, and anyone whose monthly allowance as a surviving spouse was ended after April 17, 2005 due to their remarriage was then entitled to receive the compensation they would have normally received. Since the three women had all remarried and lost the pensions prior to this date, they were denied benefits. The women believed they had been discriminated against, and brought the case to the Human Rights Commission. The commission referred the complaints to a board of inquiry, which concluded that it did not have the jurisdiction to make a decision in the case. When the case was brought before a Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court trial judge, he agreed. However, Supreme Court of Appeal Justices Margaret Cameron and Keith Mercer recently decided otherwise (Justice Malcolm Rowe dissented). “We are not concerned with whether there was, in fact, a breach of ... the Human Rights Code, but with whether a board of inquiry can order a remedy which is inconsistent with a directive contained in ... the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act,” the Supreme Court ruling stated. In making the decision, the court made the distinction between the Human Rights Code and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. “While this is not a charter case, because of the nature of the remedy sought and of the quasi-constitutional status of the Human Rights Code, it might appear to some that the Human Rights Code is analogous to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” the decision stated. “Certain obvious distinctions must be noted. The Charter, as part of the Constitution, is supreme. It supercedes all other legislation whether enacted by the Parliament or a Legislature, including human rights codes. Human rights codes, while declared to be quasi-constitutional, are statutes of the legislative body creating them and can be amended or overridden by those same bodies.” The appeals court ruled the board of inquiry has no jurisdiction to issue a general declaration that a relevant section of the Workplace Healthy, Safety and Compensation Act is inoperative. It could, however, use the Human Rights Code to make changes. “I conclude that the chief adjudicator and the Trial Division judge were in error in holding that the board of inquiry had no jurisdiction to grant a remedy in this case.” tbm@thetelegram.com Page 5 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail New Brunswick Workers’ Compensation / CPP Disability Benefits Submitted by: Wendy McGee, Executive Director Saint John Labour Community Services, Inc., 30-1216 Sand Cove Road, Saint John NB Ph: (506) 635-0391 office // Fax: (506) 634-7099 E2M 5V8 In the Spring/Summer 2005 Newsletter, there was a letter from an injured worker from Ontario regarding how WSIB had handled the payment of his retroactive benefits from CPP disability. I know it is a little late, but I would like to share with you how this situation is handled in New Brunswick. In New Brunswick worker's compensation is called Workplace Health, Safety & Compensation Commission or WHSCC. Section 38.91(1) of the New Brunswick Worker's Compensation Act reads: "Any compensation or benefits payable by the commission under section 38.11 or 38.2 to a worker shall be reduced by the same proportion of the amount the worker received under the Canada Pension Plan with respect to the injury or recurrence of the injury, that the estimated loss of earnings bears to the average net earnings." (Emphasis added) Simply put, if you are receiving Loss of Earnings benefits in New Brunswick and you are in receipt of CPP disability benefits "with respect to the injury", your Loss of Earnings benefits "shall" be reduced. The amount of the reduction depends on how much WHSCC has estimated the injured worker is capable of earning. Here is an example of how WHSCC calculates the portion of Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPPD) benefits to deduct. Children's benefits awarded to injured workers under the CPP are not deducted from loss of earnings benefits. Worker made $10.00 per hour before the accident, is not totally disabled, and is subsequently considered capable of earning $7.00 per hour after the accident. The remaining Loss of Earnings is $3.00 per hour or 30% disability. Therefore, 30% of the CPPD benefits would be deducted from Loss of Earnings benefits as that is considered the portion of the CPPD benefits related to the work-related injury. Injured workers receiving full Loss of Earnings benefits, i.e., no net estimated capable earnings would have their full amount of CPPD benefits deducted. If the CPPD benefits are solely attributable to a nonwork-related condition and WHSCC receives evidence from Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) that verifies this, they will not deduct CPPD benefits from Loss of Earnings benefits. As an advocate, I have argued that "in respect to the injury" is exactly what the legislation means. If an injured worker receives CPPD benefits because of a heart condition and the work injury is a back sprain, compensation should not be reduced because the heart condition is not "in respect to the injury." A number of appeals have been won in New Brunswick with that argument. The Canada Pension Plan can also pay Survivor's Benefits. If you are in receipt of Disability Benefits and become eligible for Survivor Benefits because of the death of your partner, there is a section of the CPP Act that comes into play. Read on. Under the CPP Act, you can receive a CPP survivor's pension and a CPPD benefit at the same time. CPP combines the benefits (survivor and disability) and it comes as one monthly payment. There are limits to what a person can receive which will not equal the total of both benefits. For example: Max. survivor rate under 65 (eff. July 2005) Maximum disability rate (eff. July 2005) Total: $ 462.42 $1,010.23 $1,472.65 However, the maximum a person can receive, when eligible for both the CPP survivor's pension and the CPPD benefit, effective July 2005, is $1,010.23 (rate set by CPP as the "Maximum Disability Benefit"). Page 6 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance You may be asking yourself "Why did I share this information with you?" Well, in New Brunswick, when an injured worker is in receipt of Loss of Earnings benefits, is receiving CPP Disability Benefits and becomes eligible for Survivor's Benefits, the commission may reduce their benefits by more money than they are supposed to. Read on. "related to the injury", that amount is recorded in the system and is carried forward for every annual recalculation of benefits. If the injured worker does not inform WHSCC that the benefits from CPP have changed due to the receipt of Survivor Benefits, the injured worker is going to receive less money than they are entitled to. For example: Initially, when an injured worker in NB has their benefits reduced by the portion of CPPD benefits CPP Disability Benefits BEFORE partner's death **$774.65 per month. *********** NEW COMBINDED BENEFITS paid monthly, in one cheque: CPP Disability Benefits AFTER partner's death CPP Survivor Benefits NEW COMBINED TOTAL FROM CPP: $510.07 per month. $444.76 per month. **$954.83 per month. This new combined total is calculated by CPP. You will note that the Disability Benefit of $774.65 has been reduced to $510.07, after being combined with Survivor's Benefits, a difference of $264.58. Now, if you consider that in New Brunswick the portion of CPP Disability Benefits related to the injury reduces compensation benefits, it is important for the injured worker to advise them of a change if they later become eligible for CPP Survivor Benefits. Remember the $10.00 - $7.00 example I gave you earlier? The $3.00 difference worked out to 30% of CPPD benefits being taken away from compensation. Considering the example above: $774.65 before Survivor's Benefits = Ben. reduced by $232.95 (30% of $774.65) $510.07 after Survivor's Benefits = Ben. reduced by only $153.02 (30% of $510.07) Injured workers in New Brunswick get far too little as it is. If we are to ensure fair compensation we must be attentive to how changes in our lives and life styles effect our benefits. This is only one example of change. Perhaps you need to take a closer look at how your provincial legislation and local policy and directives affect your benefits. Manitoba Public Input Sought on The Workers Compensation Act Review Committee Report On February 3rd 2005 the Review Committee on the Workers Compensation Act presented their report to the Honourable Nancy Allan, Minister of Labour and Immigration. Manitobans now have an opportunity to review and comment on the report of The Workers Compensation Act Review Committee. The input received through this additional consultation process will assist government in determining legislative changes to be introduced and policy changes to be implemented. Download a copy of the report “Working for Manitoba”: http://www.wcbactreview.com/pdf/Working_for_Manit oba.pdf. You may also request a copy of the report by sending an email to info@wcbactreview.com or calling 204-954-4556. Manitobans now have an opportunity to review and comment on the report by sending their feedback to Workers Compensation Review Committee Report Page 7 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Consultation, P.O. Box 1770, Station Main, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2Z9 or fax 204-954-4995. Saskatchewan The Western Injured Workers Society (WIWS) has now gotten over the summer and are working at getting back into the swing of things. We are still struggling with trying to increase our membership. We have lost a few of our members due to health reasons and tired of the continuous struggle with the WCB. We are now starting to work on our written and oral submissions for the WCB review board. We hope to have at least 15 submissions. These submissions will be delivered throughout the province as the review board travels to other areas of the province to hear the submissions. Luckily we have members all over the province so we should be able to have a presence at all of them. We are still working very hard with CUPE, Local 21 regarding WCB matters for their workers. Since they are on strike, it will be some time before we can meet with them again. We are also trying to get other unions in Saskatchewan such as the SGEU, and Steelworkers to support the Western Injured Workers Society. Our CIWA Rep, Robert Lindsay has been busy working with the aboriginal people trying to drum up some support for WIWS. He has also had a meeting with the Indian Federations in Lloyd Minster, regarding Aboriginals not receiving any training on the job and OH&S and to find out if they know their rights in the workplace for the CIWA survey. The Western Injured Workers Society would really like to see CIWA become more involved with the provincial groups. We need more and more support from our peers when we are out trying to complete our missions. When we tell other provincial groups that we are affiliated with CIWA, they are not even sure who we are talking about. We think it is now time for CIWA to become more and more visible out in the provinces, as we need all the support we can get. We are quite sure the other provinces feel the same way. We seem to have a National Organization but we seem to have a problem working together. Are we not supposed to be representing all injured worker / groups in Canada? It seems that the WCB in this province have gotten worse in regards to treating injured workers fairly. We are seeing a tremendous back log in the appeals. Also they are still forcing injured workers to take educational courses that are of no value to the Page 8 individual. If the individual refuses then their benefits are terminated. We also have a serious problem with WCB overdeducting “probable deductions” from claimant’s benefits. WCB are supposed to follow the Revenue Canada Guide Lines for deduction calculations, but It seems they are not, leaving the injured worker with much lower benefits. This is totally unfair to the injured worker and their families. We wondered why after we had brought this issue to their attention, why they are doing nothing about it. This, to us is totally wrong and illegal, but as usual the injured worker has no way or means to fight back. It seems that when an injured worker questions them on any issue they seem to just ignore it,. Also, if the injured worker tries to pursue it further to try and get some answers, then the WCB will bar you from entering their building and will not take any further calls from that individual. We wonder, with these kind of tactics used by the WCB how in the world would anyone be able to argue his or her case. We have brought many of these complaints forward to our Labour Minister responsible for the WCB. She and her office just don't seem to want to deal with it. They won't even return the individuals phone calls. We have informed the Premier’s office and all we get is a complete run around. We need CIWA and all injured workers across the country to organize and to start getting tough with these guys. If we do not, then WCB and Our Governments will continue to do what ever they please to injured workers, and their families. The Western Injured Workers Society Of Saskatchewan, are asking CIWA and all injured worker groups across the country to rally and organize together so we can start getting tough with these people who are treating injured workers and their families in such an unfair and unjust way. If we do not do something about this by everyone working together, then we will continue to see the WCB, and the Government getting worse in regards to how the injured workers across this country are being treated. Yours Truly, Board Of Directors / WIWS �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alberta Chronic Pain The Alberta WCB still does not have a chronic pain policy that conforms to the Supreme Courts decision in Martin v. Nova Scotia Workers Compensation Board which is a violation of Section 15.1 of the Charter. The Alberta WCB has a chronic pain policy but it does not conform to the reasons given by the Supreme Court in their determination of discrimination. Either the WCB in Alberta do not understand the reasons for the judgment, or they are trying to find a suitable time to make policy changes when no one is paying attention. In Alberta all disabled workers are given PCI ratings when a doctor has determined that the medical condition will not get any better and will predictably get no worse. At that time a PCI rating is mandatory. Chronic pain has to be given equal consideration in impairment ratings as are objective physical impairments. Just as in all cases of objective physical impairments, all disabled workers have to reach a medical plateau at some time and must be given an appropriate PCI rating. The Alberta WCB does not recognize mild, moderate, moderately severe chronic pain, they recognize only severe chronic pain which is a violation of the Section 15.1 of the Charter. Mild objective physical impairments are recognized by WCB and given small PCI ratings reflecting the severity of the impairment with increased increments of impairment for more severe impairments. To not provide PCI ratings for mild, moderate, moderately severe chronic pain is a violation of Section 15.1 of the Charter. WCB cannot use honest belief as an excuse if a class action civil suit was filed by injured workers who have been diagnosed with any stages of chronic pain. I do not understand why a class action lawsuit has not been filed when the chances of winning are already based on a legal precedence. Gerry Miller Allegations of fraud A former Alberta WCB Case Manager made some very serious allegations of fraud against the WCB in an article from the Edmonton Journal – Sept. 11/99 Pressure on at WCB, ex-staffer says Case managers encouraged to deny claims, cut payouts to injured workers. Case managers at the provincial Worker’s Compensation Board are pressured by their supervisors to deny claims or reduce payouts to injured workers as a cost-saving measure, claims a former WCB employee. The WCB looks for ways to save money by minimizing the income-support payment s injured workers receive, and by reducing their permanent disability awards, says former case manager Kevin Becker. “It’s done in a very convert ways,” said Becker, who worked for the WCB from 1991 to 1997. “You (the case manager) put in an earning loss claim for a worker, and your manager will come back and say “No, we can save money if we say the employee is capable of doing some work, when we know he’s not.” isn’t eligible for disability payments. It’s that kind of thing.” He said the WCB’s prime strategy seems to be a war of attrition – “keep denying and the worker will give up.” Becker, who has a consulting firm and also is an advocate for injured workers having trouble getting WCB payments, said the practices appear to be the same today as they were when he left two years ago. “The focus is on liability – how much liability are case managers able to clear away to protect the WCB fund,” he said. But a WCB official denied Becker’s claims, saying the board’s primary focus is on customer satisfaction, both for employers and for injured workers. “Or you are told to tell the injured worker he had a pre-existing condition, like arthritis in his back and he Page 9 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Becker’s comments come as Human Resources Minister Clint Dunford is deciding whether to investigate a number of complaints against the WCB by injured workers. Becker didn’t blame individual case managers or supervisors. Instead, he blamed a corporate culture which he says pays more attention to the bottom line than to injured workers. “They have lost sight of what they’re supposed to be, which is protection for the worker,” he said. satisfaction,” she said. “The motivation is to ensure that workers are satisfied. We wouldn’t try to do that by reducing benefits.” Employees who save the WCB the most money tend to get promoted while those who are deemed to be too generous to injured workers are often forced out of their jobs, he added. “The system generates a lot of statistics on which case managers are costing the most,” he said. “Those who are, tend to get ridden a lot harder by supervisors. There’s a lot of constructive dismissal.” But Becker said he noticed a shift in attitude in 1993 and 1994, as the WCB attacked its mounting deficit. But a WCB official disputed his allegations. “At no time has there been any motive for case managers to deny benefits,” said Nancy Saul-Demers, director of corporate communications for the WCB. She said staff members are paid bonuses based on worker and employer satisfaction, not on the amount of money the WCB saves. “Any bonuses they receive are tied to corporate objective that revolve around customer WCB payouts for income support, medical costs and rehabilitation have been increasing yearly, which She cited as proof the WCB isn’t slashing benefits to save money. The average cost per claim has r8isen to $9,200 this year from $8,500 in 1997. “They started digging up old claims,” he said. “We were told to take a look at old earning losses and to see if we could reduce it. We were phoning up workers who had received entitlements for years, and saying we’ve just reviewed it, and decided that you’re capable of earning more, and next week your cheque will be less.” He left in 1997 to do human resources consulting work for the David Thompson Health Authority. He also turned his WCB experience into a career in workers’ advocacy. :”It’s my impression the WCB has become much worse since I left,” he said. Ontario Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 On June 13, 2005, The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, received royal assent and is now the law. The Ontario government is recruiting for the chair, vice-chair and members of the new Accessibility Standards Advisory Council created under the act. Membership of the council will be drawn from the broader public and private sectors, with a majority of council members being people with disabilities. Standards will be set in stages of five years or less and address the full range of disabilities. New standards could include: - Accessible pedestrian routes and entrances into buildings; - Lower counter heights at cash registers to accommodate wheelchairs Large print menus in restaurants for the visually-impaired Staff training in serving customers with learning disabilities. Full implementation of the act to make Ontario accessible, requires fundamental changes, and the target is to be completed in 20 years, achieving results in stages, with milestones every five years or less. Every Ontarian should have the opportunity to work, learn, play and otherwise participate in society to their full potential without facing barriers. WSIB Rates going up? The Standard recently reported that employer premiums paid to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) will rise by three per cent next year "much to the disappointment of the province's business community." Ontario employers really do not have much to be disappointed about. Provincial Page 10 government policies have in fact resulted in a reduction of their WSIB premiums by twenty seven per cent over the last ten years and the payout of $1.8 billion in employer rebates. �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Those who have real reason to be disappointed are Ontario's injured workers. Their benefits were cut and made harder to obtain. The purchasing power of their benefits has also sharply dropped because cost of living adjustments to their benefits to compensate for inflation have been almost non-existent. In 1998 the Harris government gouged the formula for calculating cost of living adjustments for benefits. Injured workers also have particular reason to be disappointed with the current Ontario Liberal government. After being elected it repeatedly promised to change Ontario's workers compensation system so that it delivered justice for injured workers. But this government has delivered next to nothing in the way of significant changes to the system. The then Minister of Labour who made these broken promises has moved on to bigger and better things in the Liberal cabinet. A lot has been said about how many promises Dalton McGuinty's Liberal government has broken. The failure of it to deliver justice to injured workers should be widely seen as the most callous and disappointing of all its broken promises to date. Bob Chapman 42 Hamilton Blvd. Port Robinson, Ontario Ph: (905) 384-9429 Nova Scotia Injured Workers Suing WCB, Province Board denies groups’ claims, hopes to have case dismissed By Beverley Ware / South Shore Bureau Submitted by Peggy Hancock, Nova Scotia Injured Workers BRIDGEWATER – The South Shore Injured Workers’ Association is suing the provincial government and the Workers’ Compensation Board. The group, in a lawsuit launched in November, claims injured workers have suffered because of actions by government and the board, and is seeking a forensic audit of the board. forwarded to the provincial Labour Department through liaison Barbara Jones – Gordon. The statement also says “the injured Workers’ (members) have been caused serious injury to their personal and professional goodwill and (have) suffered considerable distress.” The board is calling the action “false” and “scandalous”, and has applied to get the lawsuit thrown out of court. The Nova Scotia Workers’ Compensation System was the subject of a year-long review that culminated in the Dorsey report in April 2002. That report, written by Jim Dorsey, listed 28 areas of the health and safety and worker’s compensation program that needed improvement. Former Bridgewater businessman, Harold Selig filed the court action on the association’s behalf as no lawyer would take his case. If it is thrown out in Nova Scotia, he intends to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. In their statement of claim, the association and Mr. Selig allege the province, labour department, the compensation board, former Chairman Innis Christie, former CEO David Stuewe and Attorney General Mr. Michael Baker have “wittingly or unwittingly caused improprieties regarding benefit payments to (the) Injured Workers’ (Association)” by hiring lawyers to represent both the board and the injured workers. The notice of legal action also alleges the defendants “Failed to comply with reasonable benefit payments made for injuries sustained by injured workers and their families” and that these complaints were In his final report, Mr. Dorsey wrote: “Before the 1990’s, for whatever reason – incompetence, mismanagement, bungling, deceit, apathy, expediency or indifference – there was a breach of the faith workers and employers placed in government and the members of the Workers’ Compensation Board.” Mr. Dorsey also said the past “breaches of faith … have left scars and a pervading distrust” and that some people are not willing to close the book and move on. According to Louis Comeau, Compensation Board Chairman, the Board is taking the Dorsey report seriously and proceeding with changes. The price tag for these changes is at over $240 million, and is not doable in the short term. Page 11 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Northwest Territories An email from John Huffman, Injured Worker To all injured workers who have or have had claims against the WCB, please contact me, as we have managed to get the Auditor General of Canada to do an audit into the complaints against the WCB in the NWT. If you have any information, this could make a difference in your life and maybe you will finally receive fair treatment. British Columbia The Canadian RSD Network Society in Surrey, BC has been working hard on the BC Proclamation for RSD/CRPS Awareness campaign. This July, thousands of British Columbians with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy finally have their disease recognized. July has been officially proclaimed RSD/CRPS Awareness month in BC. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), is also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome ((CRPS). It is a chronic, painful, progressive neurological condition that affects skin, muscles, joints, blood vessels and bones. RSD is also seen as a complication following such diseases as heart attacks, stroke, cancer, diabetes, M.S., or spinal cord disorders. In many cases RSD began from a minor injury. Approximately 10 – 20% of cases there is no precipitating event identified. While millions across North America have this disorder, approximately as few as 2 – 8% of medical doctors are aware of, or recognize this life altering disorder. Two types of RSD/CRPS have been defined: CRPS Type 1: without nerve injury CPRS Type 2: with nerve injury (formerly called causalgia) Page 12 John Huffman Ph: 867-669-0963 Email: j.huffman@theedge.ca Or: Bill Braden, MLA Ph: 867-669-2276 / 867-69-2275 Both types share exactly the same signs and symptoms, with the only difference being the presence of nerve injury. There is NO Cure. There is No Control for this disease. Remission can occur for years, but reappear with a new injury. Awareness and education on RSD/CRPS is the group’s main goal. The Canadian RSD Network was founded 10 years ago with a mission to educate, support, raise awareness, aid in early diagnosis and help find a cure for RSD. Run entirely by volunteer RSD patients and their families, they offer an On-Line Support Group, referrals and information website at: www.canadianrsd.com The Canadian RSD Network Society can also be reached at: P.O. Box 367, Surrey Main Post Office Surrey, BC V3T 5B6 Email: info@canadianrsd.com To view the BC Proclamation for RSD/CRPS Awareness Month, visit the website: http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/oic/2005/procs/RSDS _CRPS.htm �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Miscellaneous Voluntary Risks …………………. Keeping Volunteers Safe Condensed from “The Safety Mosaic”, The Official Publication of the Ontario Service Safety Alliance, Fall 2005 Edition. Volunteer organizations and the volunteers that support their causes are risk takers, no matter what kind of work they do. It is both for the well-being of the organization, and for the safety of volunteers, that these risks must be identified, assumed, and managed. HEALTH and SAFETY RISKS Within any organization, the scope of work carried out by volunteers can be quite varied and range from sitting at a desk answering the phone, or working on a computer to moving furniture – either around the office, or to new office spaces. Since the work of a volunteer at the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs can range from operating heavy equipment, chainsaws, patrolling trails on snowmobiles, to computer work, community outreach or hosting meetings, they have set up a “Volunteers in Action” committee. This committee has developed many OFSC programs for volunteers, funded training days and encouraged each club to appoint a volunteer coordinator, providing incentives on how to award and support their volunteers. Habitat for Humanity is also very diverse and goes way beyond actual house building. This organization has developed a National Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) program to promote and implement a comprehensive health and safety emphasis in all of its activities. All affiliates have been encouraged to consult with local occupational health and safety authorities to ensure compliance with local legislation. All affiliates are encouraged to appoint a dedicated SHE coordinator to manage all occupational health and safety responsibilities. Whatever the volunteer position may be, organizations should have health and safety policies and procedures in place that are written down and implemented, says Karen Lambert of Volunteer Canada. Organizations should consider the risks involved in all their volunteer positions, as well as the paid positions, she says. The risk assessment should consider all potential risks including:         Accidents Serious injury Loss or damage to property Breach of confidentiality Misrepresentation or speaking inappropriately of the organization Theft, misappropriation of funds, fraud Abuse (physical, emotional, sexual or financial) Loss of agency reputation, organizational credibility, public trust. Liability insurance coverage for their volunteers should be considered, just as they would for their paid employees, adds Lambert. Volunteer Canada encourages volunteers to be as informed as possible before undertaking any position. “As more information is available and broadly disseminated, volunteers have become more aware of their rights and responsibilities regarding the choices they make in volunteering assignments,” says Lambert. “Individuals have become more aware, and to some degree more knowledgeable, of the potential hazards and risks involved.” Page 13 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Letters from Injured Workers GOVERNMENT AND JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE AFRAID OF WCB IN SASKATCHEWAN Minister Higgins and the Government appointed Board to the WCB must go! deducting probable deductions from any one deemed capable of earning. The government appointed Board to the WCB in Saskatchewan, seem to be in a category of their own. They are obviously feared by the government and the justice systems in the province of Saskatchewan. When you mention the initials “WCB” our justice system runs and hides. They seem to want no confrontation with the most legislated, protected company in Saskatchewan. I suggest to anyone reading this to request from their CSR a copy or statement of the weekly probable deductions being charged to them. I believe you will find that WCB is charging you probable deductions on your benefits, as well as probable deductions on the money they have deemed you capable of earning. I have proof that WCB are doing this, and have had it verified by an agent of Revenue Canada. One example is a complaint made to the RCMP in SK, where WCB had released private and personal information to be used for WCB gain. The person’s name and email address, who gained the personal information was provided to the RCMP, with a statement of suspicions that WCB released and used the information obtained. The RCMP contacted the WCB in regard to the allegations and were told they had no knowledge of the incident in question. There seems to be a loop hole which the government failed to close when they legislated the Act. This loop hole allows the government appointed board to be taken to court, and held accountable for the decisions they make. As soon as the board members have been served, including the retired, Mr. Norm Brown, I will release the loop hole to the public. You, as injured workers will have to move fast, as there is no doubt that Minister Higgins will shut the loop in the fall session. The investigation concluded and nothing further was investigated as to the person who obtained the personal and private information, or where it was obtained. Is this a sign of the power of WCB in Saskatchewan - when an investigation into a criminal act can be stopped so quickly, when it may involve the WCB? Since my benefits have been cut by $800/month which seemed to be a result of questioning a Stakeholder’s meeting about a consistent 38% lost time claim allowance for five consecutive years, I am also investigating deductions that WCB takes from claimants benefits. It seems that they are over- Jim Taphorn Box 253, Quinton, SK S0A 3G0 Fax: 306-835-2679 Email: jmtaphorn@hotmail.com Page 14 I am not an advocate. All the work I do is for the benefit of all injured workers of SK. We must stick together as one large voice, and fight for the coverage, that the premiums paid for on our behalf to protect us and our families in case of a work related injury, not to be held from us by a deceitful insurance company, and a government appointed board, who should be classed as employees of the insurance company, as they are the company paying the board’s wages. If you have any comments or questions regarding the contents of this letter, please feel free to contact me. �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance JUSTICE To do what is right, and in a broader sense to do what is right for the greater good, and sometimes that means not doing as expected, such as not following written or common law, and in exceptional circumstances to do things most extraordinary. Things an ordinary individual that has or would have met the criteria for Victoria Cross, Metal of Honour or the Order of Canada, and in the case of a politician – do like Tommy Douglas, who was, and perhaps is the Greatest Canadian that has, or ever will live, Tommy Douglas was the impetus for the things that are valued by and effect all Canadians every day, yet past and current politicians are reluctant to follow his example, and ask themselves “What would Tommy do?” One of the few examples of a politicians that did “What Would Tommy do” was Lester Pearson with the Canadian Bill of Rights and Pier Elliot Trudeau with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and lets not forget Canada Health Act and the Canada Pension Plan to name a few. What about what Workers Compensation is suppose to be? What about Nationalizing Oil and Gas or Export Tax for it? Is it any wonder Tommy Douglas was voted the Greatest Canadian? JFK once said, “don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for you’re your country”. Well what about what politicians can do for its citizenry, you know, ordinary folk that’s not a criminal or wealthy, folk that works for a living with less than a six digit income for the household, what can you do? At least export tax to pay back the 5 billion in softwood export tariffs, and after that give every Canadian a Tax exempt pay cheque. Every Canadian Citizen that has been born in Canada and is a citizen, or has immigrated and has been a citizen and lived and currently living in Canada for more than eighteen years should receive one. You see all other large oil producing countries do it. If you immigrate to such countries one would probably not get royalty cheque unless one was born there, or is the son or daughter of one that was born there and currently lives in the country where the Royalties are being paid from. The common trait among all of the aforementioned is that they feel that they did not do anything special, in that anyone would do the same if in a similar situation. Yes maybe, but probably very few, as you look at the actions of most politicians today and yesterday. Remember as written by R.A. McLary of Ottawa “Politics is the art of the possible”. I will tell you what justice is! Justice is the Law, and the Law is man’s feeble attempt to set down the principles of decency! Decency isn’t a deal, it isn’t an angle, contract or a hustle! Decency is what your grandmother taught you. Iit is in your bones! Now be decent people. Without Civil Liberties, Citizens are no longer able to exercise their sovereignty over Government, like the Magna Carta (The Great Charter) had over the sovereign in 1215! The so called government of the day, primarily made of lords and dukes had the power to make laws while the average citizen had none. Now in the twentieth century of so called Christianity, Civil Liberties and a Vote are suppose to give Citizens the right over government, for which I see the next century the Single Transferable Vote (STV) as important as the Maga Carta of 1215, for which the rich, powerful and influential will resist as did King John. Without some form of the STV, (where every vote is counted and actually worth something as a form of proportional representation and thereby giving every citizen a voice to advance their wants and needs), there will only be a decline of so called Western Civilization, and suicide bombers will reign supreme as without a definitive voice the malcontent will resort to - as some already have! A disproportional and unfairly representational government spells disaster! Josh Thurston Page 15 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Our Goals CIWA/ACVAMT Is about SUPPORT We are a national network of injured worker's groups (IWG's) and we exist to strengthen and support the work of local and provincial IWG's across Canada.  To work towards a just  INDEPENDENCE We believe that injured workers should be in control of their own destinies & Injured Workers Groups must be democratically controlled by injured workers.  PARTNERSHIPS  We believe that we can best assist these objectives by providing training and educational resources in partnership with provincial or territorial organizations of injured workers and the trade union movement at all levels.   INFORMATION SHARING We believe that by sharing our stories and our experience we can learn from each other and become better educated and exert more control over our lives.  system of compensation, rehabilitation and reemployment in all of Canada. To provide a national forum for debating issues concerning injured workers at national conferences and board workshops. To gather and share information with groups across Canada. To improve the Occupational Health & Safety of workers across Canada. To identify and make available, educational and training resources produced by the union movement and other agencies, that focus on organizing and maintaining effective injured worker groups. To enhance the local base of the injured workers movement through all our activities. To form partnerships that will achieve common goals. Publications Available         The VOICE OF INJURED WORKER PLAIN TALK HOW TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN INJURED WORKERS & ORGANIZED LABOUR REPORT ON RELATIONS WITH LABOUR SESSION AT CIWA NATIONAL CONFERENCE, REGINA 1992 RETURNING TO WORK VOC REHAB & RE-EMPLOYMENT FROM THE INJURED WORKER'S PERSPECTIVE INJURED WORKERS … ON THE MOVE COMING TOGETHER VIDEOS & WORKBOOKS  YOUTH PROJECT MANUAL, 2002  SURVIVORS, 1997  TOGETHER WE CAN WIN, 1997  PEER HELPER TRAINING MANUAL, 2000 - "PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE"  LE COMBAT QUOTIDIEN DES VICTIMES DU TRAVAIL, 1999 To find out more, please contact us at: CIWA/ACVAMT P.O. Box 10098, 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6R2 Ph: 807-345-3429 Fx: 807-344-8683 Toll Free: 1-877-787-7010 Email: ciwa@vianet.ca Web Site: www.ciwa.ca Connect with an injured workers group near you. Check out our web site at: www.ciwa.ca and click on "Who to Contact"  OR  Call our office at (807) 345-3429 or Toll Free at 1-877-787-7010 This Newsletter is intended to share information of interest to injured workers/ groups / organizations, union activists and their supporters. It provides a forum for sharing our experiences - so we can learn from each other - in order to improve the lives of injured and disabled workers and the system that is there to assist them. Please help - by sharing your story with us. Printed by CUPE 87 / Imprimé par le SCFP 87 Page 16 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CIWA Highlights Newsletter Summer/Fall 2005 Description An account of the resource Advertising a chronic pain research project. Upcoming CIWA activities. Articles on youth at risk, lost pensions for widows in Newfoundland and Labrador, workers compensation in New Brunswick, WCA review committee seeking public opinion in Manitoba, the WIWS's actions in Saskatchewan, chronic pain in Alberta, allegations of fraud against the WCB in Alberta, the AODA in Ontario, WSIB rates going up in Ontario, injured workers suing WCB in Nova Scotia, injured workers in NWT, the British Colombia proclamation for RSD/CRPS awareness campaign, keeping volunteer's safe. A letter about justice. Letters from injured workers. Obituary for Orlando Buonastella. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource CIWA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2005 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Subject The topic of the resource Labour and Labour Unions https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/a726cdf6e285fc22255d30fcbaeecb28.pdf a76fba59bdd82206ed74cf8beacca7d3 PDF Text Text CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL SALES AGREEMENT #1685422 Severance Pay - Law Overturned: Disabled workers must get same compensation ! Employment Standards Act (ESA) section violates charter of rights ! In a ruling hailed as a major milestone, Ontario’s highest court has struck down part of a law that allows employers to deny severance packages to disabled workers who can no longer continue in their jobs. Read more on page 8 Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) 2005 Replaces: Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA) 2001 / The ODA was often maligned for its lack of teeth. Now broader disability legislation has been passed by Dalton McGuinty’s government – May 10/05. In 2001, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act was passed. Advocates quickly dismissed it as a piece of legislation which was largely ineffective. In October, 2004, Dalton McGuinty’s government proposed new legislation to replace the Ontarians with Disabilities Act. This new act, known as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), is described as strong, effective and comprehensive and will lead to significant changes in barriers faced by people with disabilities in Ontario. Read more on page 9 Table of Contents CIWA/ACVAMT Contacts ...................................... 2 CIWAY Contacts, Thanks, Interesting Web Sites ..... 3 CIWA/ACVAMT Activities .....................................4, 6 Activités CIWA/ACVAMT ......................................5, 7 CPP/LTD/WCB Benefits/Pensions ............................ 6 Severance Pay Law Overturned .............................. 8 Indemnité de depart – Loi annulée ......................... 9 OFL/FOL Day of Mourning Statistics .......................10 Statistiques sur le jour de deuil FTO.......................11 Chronic Pain .........................................................10 Douleur chronique ................................................11 Ontarians with Disabilities – Act 2 ..........................13 Ergonomic Issues – Ontario Workplaces .................13 WCB is Failing Injured Workers..............................14 Events To Remember........................................... 14 Miscellaneous .......................................................15 Congratulations ! ..................................................15 CIWA/ACVAMT Info ..............................................16 Page 1 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail PLEASE HELP ………… S U B S C R I B E T O D A Y ! Name: ________________________________ Date: Organization: ________________________________ Address: ________________________________ Highlights is published 4 times per year ________________________________ Injured Worker/Unemployed $ 5.00 __________ Postal Code ________________________________ Individuals $ 10.00 __________ Phone ________________________________ Organizations $ 15.00 __________ Fax ________________________________ Donations $ E-Mail ________________________________ Total Web Site ________________________________ THANKS for Your SUPPORT! ________________________________ Newsletter Subscription: __________ $ __________ Editor’s Note This newsletter is for sharing and exchanging information. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the individuals or groups making submissions. We take no responsibility for their accuracy or for their opinions. PROVINCIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF CIWA/ACVAMT VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS… EXECUTIVE OFFICERS… BC ... Lee Harrison, Surrey President Secretary Treasurer SK ... Robert Lindsay, Regina Western Injured Workers Society (Sask.) MB… Vincent Boyce, Winnipeg NS... Dave MacKenzie, Pictou County PEI ... Leonard J. Crawford, Summerside Rob Lindsay Lee Harrison Vincent Boyce ADVISORS… Andy King, U.S.W.A. Orlando Buonastella & Marion Endicott, Injured Workers Consultants STAFF… Phil Brake, National Coordinator Monika Wiitala, Office Manager L’ALLIANCE CANADIENNE DES VICTIMES D’ACCIDENTS ET DE MALADIES DU TRAVAIL MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 10098 Thunder Bay, Ontario. P7B 6T6 Phone: 807-345-3429 Fax: 807-344-8683 . Page 2 CANADIAN INJURED WORKERS ALLIANCE Toll Free 1-877-787-7010 STREET ADDRESS 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 6R2 email: ciwa@vianet.ca Web-site: www.ciwa.ca �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Canadian Injured Workers Alliance of Youth (CIWAY) BOARD OF DIRECTORS – MARCH 2004 PRESIDENT TARA DORVAL VICE PRESIDENT DUSTIN EASTMAN SECRETARY JULIE SHOEMAKER TREASURER JESSICA BELANGER Thunder Bay, ON Regina, SK Sommerset, MB Winnipeg, MB BOARD MEMBERS / Provincial Reps ANDREW BACCHUS Toronto, ON DAWN HAMILTON Labrador City, NF PAIGE MOORE Montague, PEI AMANDA PERREAULT Brampton, ON DEAN RUDD Whitehorse, YT LILI TRINH Toronto, ON SCOTT WOLBAUM Regina, SK JAMIE WOODHOUSE Winnipeg, MB For information on how to contact any of the above provincial representatives, please contact our office in Thunder Bay, Ontario at 807-345-3429, or toll free: 1-877-787-7010, fax: 807-344-8683, email: ciwa@vianet.ca or visit our website at www.ciwa.ca Informative Websites to Check Out: Office of the Worker Advisor www.owa.gov.on.ca www.owa.gov.bc.ca Contains info such as: - workers self help kit - how to obtain the WSIB Policy Manual Check for an office in your province by changing the two letters in the website address to your own. Association Xpertise Inc www.axi.ca johnhennessyfoundation.com Contains info such as: - Specializing in Non-Profit Info - how to keep groups (non-profit) organized - various rules & regulations to follow On December 5, 2004, Grettie Hennessy’s only son and child, John Hennessy-Moore, 18 years old was killed when the pipe system he was working on that was not properly bolted and/or clamped down, moved off the I-Beam’s and struck John in the face and head, at a Husky Energy Plant in Lloydminster, SK. This web site and the John Hennessy Workplace Head Injury Foundation, was developed with a mission to improve the quality of life for survivors of traumatic workplace head injuries, serious brain damage and their families. CIWA is very pleased to say thank you to HRDC – Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP) and the Office for Disability Issues, for the approval of funding through the “Organizational Capacity Building” support program for a three year term. This funding enables CIWA to continue providing valuable services and support to injured and disabled worker’s groups and individuals, and is, to a large extent, contingent upon their continued support of our organization. In part, this funding also provides the support required to publish this newsletter. Page 3 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail CIWA/ACVAMT Activities CLC Winter Schools - 2005 - Harrison Hotsprings - Abbotsford, BC - CAW H&S Centre, Port Elgin, ON - Best Western, North Bay, ON Board of Directors Meetings - February 2005, Calgary, AB Day of Mourning Ceremonies – April 28, 2005 - Various activities across Canada INTERNET CCOH&S Convention, March 2005 - Toronto, ON Round Table Project – 2005 - Toronto, ON CLC H&S Committee Meeting, March 2005 - Ottawa, ON Chronic Pain Meeting, May 2005 Halifax, NS CLC Winter School We are hopeful in receiving funding once again through the HRD Summer Experience Program to be able to hire a Summer Student to help with our web site development and updates. The following is a report we received from the President of the Hamilton & District Injured Workers Group, Peter Page, who had attended the Winter School in Port Elgin, Ontario. For a number of years now, our Summer Students have assisted in creating, developing and updating our site. Each year different parts of our site take on a new look or feature, depending on the creativity and skills of the individual that we engage services with. ―My one week course at Port Elgin’s CAW training complex was quite educational and therapeutic. Being that I am an injured worker and have been out of the workforce since 2002, one can be nervous about reentering the working community, but I survived due in part to the friendly and welcoming environment fostered by the staff. INFORMATION & REFERRAL Our predominant tool of communication for information and referral continues to be via the internet. Whether individuals find and access our direct website through a search engine, or by word of mouth, we constantly receive requests from injured workers, their friends or relatives for information or direction on who to contact or where to go for assistance with their claim file. Because of the many injured worker groups that exist throughout Canada, we are usually able to refer them to someone within a close proximity to where they reside. The existing constant need for referral is endlessly apparent as too many persons injured in the workplace are unaware of the resources available to them or the problems and complications that could arise once they are injured or acquired a workplace related disease. Page 4 The course I chose was EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS and MEDIA SKILLS. This course I felt would be helpful in my duties as President of the Hamilton & District Injured Workers Group. Our class learned public speaking and dealing with media, and overcoming stage fright. The whole experience was fun and educational and I would recommend the school to anyone who wants to improve old skills and learn new ones. I would like to thank the Canadian Labour Congress, Canadian Injured Worker Alliance and the Ontario Network of Injured Worker Groups for this wonderful opportunity and hope that the scholarship continues. Many injured workers need support in rebuilding their lives, so keep up the good work and remember there is strength in numbers. Peter Page, President HDIWG‖ �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Activités CIWA/ACVAMT Écoles d’hiver du CTC - 2005 - Harrison Hotsprings - Abbotsford, C.-B. - Centre SS TCA, Port Elgin, Ont. - Best Western, North Bay, Ont. Réunion du conseil d’administration - Février 2005, Calgary, Alb. Cérémonies du Jour de deuil national – 28 avril 2005 - Différentes activités au Canada Congrès du CCHST, mars 2005 - Toronto, Ont. Projet de table ronde – 2005 - Toronto, Ont. Réunion du comité SS du CTC, mars 2005 - Ottawa, Ont. Réunion sur la douleur chronique, mai 2005 Halifax, N.-É. INTERNET École d’hiver du CTC Nous espérons recevoir du financement encore une fois par l’entremise du Programme expérience été, de la DRH, afin de pouvoir embaucher un ou une stagiaire d’été qui verra à développer et à actualiser notre site web. Voici le rapport que nous avons reçu de la part du président du Hamilton & District Injured Workers Group, Peter Page, qui a assisté à l’école d’hiver à Port Elgin (Ontario). Il y a déjà quelques années que des stagiaires d’été nous aident à créer, mettre au point et actualiser notre site. Chaque année, différents volets de notre site changent d’allure selon la créativité et l’habileté de la personne embauchée. INFORMATION et AIGUILLAGE Notre principal outil de communication pour l’information et l’aiguillage continue d’être Internet. Que l’on accède à notre site web directement ou par un moteur de recherche, ou que l’on entende parler de nos services, nous recevons constamment des demandes de la part de victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail, ou de la part de leurs parents ou amis, au sujet de l’endroit où s’adresser pour obtenir de l’aide au sujet d’une demande d’indemnité. Compte tenu des nombreux groupes de victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail au Canada, nous sommes normalement en mesure de diriger ces personnes vers un ou une responsable proche de leur lieu de résidence. Il y a un réel besoin d’aiguillage permanent parce que trop de personnes victimes d’un accident ou d’une maladie du travail ignorent les ressources mises à leur disposition ou les problèmes et complications qui pourraient découler d’un accident ou d’une maladie du travail. « Mon cours d’une semaine au complexe de formation des TCA à Port Elgin a été une expérience éducative et thérapeutique. Je suis une victime du travail hors du marché du travail depuis 2002 et j’étais nerveux au sujet de la réintégration de ce marché; mais j’ai survécu à cela grâce en partie à l’ambiance amicale et chaleureuse créée par le personnel. Le cours que j’ai choisi a été EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS & MEDIA SKILLS. J’ai déterminé que ce cours me serait utile en tant que président du Hamilton & District Injured Workers Group. Notre classe a appris des notions sur la façon de parler en public, de traiter avec les médias et de surmonter le trac. Cette expérience dans son ensemble s’est avérée amusante et éducative. Je recommande cette école à quiconque désire améliorer ses connaissances et en acquérir de nouvelles. Je désire remercier le Congrès du Travail du Canada, l’Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail et Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups pour cet excellent cours; j’espère que les bourses seront maintenues. Plusieurs victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail ont besoin de soutien pour refaire leur vie; donc, continuez votre bon travail et rappelez-vous que l’union fait la force! Peter Page, président du HDIWG « Page 5 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail ROUND TABLE – RTF/RTW It is now two years since CIWA has been actively involved on the Advisory Board with the Round Table Project. Members of the Round Table Project on ―Return to Function, Return to Work‖ (RTF/RTW) met in September 2004, in Toronto, Ontario. The goal of RTF/RTW is to give all disabled people the right to participate in a program that will be more meaningful and productive. Too many employers and insurance companies implement RTW programs in the best interest of themselves which are usually geared to fail the disabled person. Our belief is that only in implementing a team approach, will RTF/RTW be successful. The next meeting to finalize changes is planned for April 8, 2005. STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ORGANIZED LABOUR CIWA’s representatives have attended spring & winter schools hosted by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), for a number of years now. Once again, CLC afforded us the opportunity for two of our representatives in two regions to attend CLC Winter School training sessions in Ontario and British Columbia. The feedback from the attendees to the Winter Schools is just fantastic. Even though the courses are naturally geared to the Labour Movement, our participants learn valuable information which they can use in their local injured worker organization. Participants this winter took part in courses such as: - Duties to Accommodate - Unions in the Community - Taking Back our Municipalities / Mobilizing Communities - Resolving Workplace Disputes & Conflicts - Effective Communications & Media Skills CLC 2nd National Disability Rights Conference The Canadian Labour Congress hosted it’s 2nd National Disability Rights Conference in November, 2004, in Montreal, Quebec, titled ―Doing MORE – Moving FORWARD‖. CIWA representatives attended this conference. Page 6 CAW Annual Compensation Conference – October 2004 News from the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups: The objective of the conference was to strengthen and deepen the CAW Workers’ Compensation ―Take It Back‖ campaign. Delegates voted unanimously in favour of the following recommendations: 1. Make Occupational Disease and RSI’s the focal point of activities 2. Organize for: - November 30th – Injured Worker Demo’s - RSI Day – February 28th - April 28th – Int’l Day of Mourning - June 1st – Injured Workers’ Day 3. Continue lobbying MPP’s with new cases 4. Educate our membership focusing on (but not limited to) occupational disease and RSI’s 5. Become an associate member of ONIWG - Participate in the newsletter committee and the political action committee 6. Establish a CAW Internal Occupational Disease Network The CAW will join with ONIWG and others to organize joint activities in areas such as Thunder Bay, Timmins, Windsor, London, Toronto and Hamilton. Congratulations to ONIWG on the support you are receiving! Good Job! BOARD OF DIRECTORS The CIWA Board of Directors has held their regular board meeting in February, 2005 in Calgary, AB in order to discuss the on-going operation and direction of the organization. The CIWA Board of Directors will hopefully meet again in the fall or winter of 2005/2006 sometime, (at minimum will meet via conference call), to continue to direct the organization and review its goals, activities, and current activity progress, and its outcomes and achievements. The Executives of the Board of Directors continue to meet on a regular basis to review financial statements and discuss ongoing issues. The Executives went to the National Office in Thunder Bay in January, 2005 in order to review financials, and offer assistance to the Office Manager. The CIWA sub-committees meet regularly to review plans and goals for CIWA. �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance TABLE RONDE – RETOUR À LA FONCTION/RETOUR AU TRAVAIL Il y a déjà deux ans que l’ACVAMT participe activement au sein du comité consultatif du Projet de table ronde. Les membres du Projet de table ronde sur le retour à la fonction et le retour au travail se sont réunis en septembre 2004 à Toronto. L’objet de ce Projet est de permettre à toute personne handicapée de participer à un programme plus sensé et plus productif. Trop d’employeurs et de compagnies d’assurance introduisent des programmes qui visent plutôt leur propre intérêt et laissent tomber la personne handicapée. Nous croyons que c’est en adoptant une approche d’équipe que les programmes de retour à la fonction/retour au travail peuvent réussir. La prochaine réunion qui mettra la dernière main aux changements aura lieu le 8 avril 2005. PROJET DE TABLE RONDE Sur un retour à la Colloque annuel sur l’indemnisation des TCA – Octobre 2004 Nouvelles de Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG) : L’objet du colloque était de renforcer et d’approfondir la campagne Take It Back sur l’indemnisation des travailleurs et travailleuses TCA. Les délégués ont voté à l’unanimité en faveur des recommandations suivantes : 1. Faire des maladies professionnelles et des microtraumatismes répétés le point central des activités. 2. S’organiser pour : - 30 novembre – manifestation des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail - Jour des microtraumatismes répétés – 28 février 3. 28 avril – Jour de deuil international - 1er juin – Jour des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail 4. Maintenir la pression sur les députés provinciaux avec de nouveaux cas. 5. Éduquer nos membres en mettant l’accent sur les maladies professionnelles et les microtraumatismes répétés sans s’y limiter. 6. Devenir un membre associé d’ONIWG - Participer au comité du bulletin d’information et au comité d’action politique. 7. Établir un réseau interne TCA de maladies professionnelles. fonction/retour au travail sécuritarie et oportun Les TCA se joindront à ONIWG et à d’autres organismes afin d’organiser des activités conjointes à Thunder Bay, Timmins, Windsor, London, Toronto et Hamilton. RESSERRER LES LIENS AVEC LE MOUVEMENT SYNDICAL Félicitations à ONIWG pour l ‘appui que vous recevez! C’est du beau boulot! Pour un processus qui appuie la personne Cela fait quelques années que les représentants et représentantes de l’ACVAMT participent à des écoles de printemps et d’hiver organisées par le Congrès du Travail du Canada (CTC). Encore une fois, le CTC a donné l’occasion à deux de nos représentants dans deux régions de participer à des sessions de formation d’hiver en Ontario et en Colombie-Britannique. Les réactions des participants et participantes aux écoles d’hiver sont tout simplement étonnantes. Même si ces cours sont naturellement orientés vers le mouvement syndical, nos participants et participantes acquièrent des renseignements utiles qu’ils peuvent appliquer à leur groupe local de victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail. Deuxième colloque national sur les droits des personnes handicapées du CTC Le Congrès du Travail du Canada a tenu son Deuxième colloque national sur les droits des personnes handicapées en novembre 2004 à Montréal sous le thème de « Doing MORE — Moving FORWARD (Faire davantage — Aller de l’avant) ». Des représentants de l’ACVAMT ont participé à ce colloque. CONSEIL D’ADMINISTRATION Le conseil d’administration de l’ACVAMT a tenu sa réunion régulière en février 2005 à Calgary afin de discuter du fonctionnement continu et de l’orientation de l’organisme. Il est à espérer que le conseil d’administration de l’ACVAMT puisse se réunir à nouveau à l’automne ou à l’hiver 2005-2006; il y aura au minimum une conférence téléphonique afin de continuer à diriger l’organisme et à discuter des objectifs, activités et réalisations. Les directeurs et directrices du conseil continuent à se rencontrer régulièrement pour étudier les états financiers et discuter des questions courantes. Les directrices et directeurs se sont rendus au siège social de l’ACVAMT à Thunder Bay en janvier 2005 pour examiner les états financiers et offrir de l’aide à la directrice du bureau. Les sous-comités de l’ACVAMT se rencontrent régulièrement pour étudier les plans et objectifs de l’organisme national. Page 7 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail CHRONIC PAIN CIWA is proud to be part of a very important organization, the Canadian Pain Coalition (CPC). In the last year the CPC has been working hard at ensuring that persons suffering from chronic pain are receiving proper care and recognition. The CPC has been busy to accomplish having a motion brought to the House, with the support of the Senate to declare ―National Pain Awareness Week‖, which will be the first week in November every year. In November 2004, the Canadian Injured Workers Alliance attended a Gala Fundraising event in Toronto, Ontario to raise money to kick off the ―National Pain Awareness Week‖. The next Gala Fundraising Event is currently being planned for November 3, 2005. The CPC is in the process of becoming incorporated, having their constitution and bylaws in place. They have a web site up and running and you can explore it at: www.painhurtscanada.ca The next meeting is planned for May 13 - 16, 2005 in Halifax, NS. Severance Pay - Law Overturned: Disabled workers must get same compensation ! Employment Standards Act (ESA) section violates charter of rights ! A section of the ESA entitles employers to refuse severance pay to employees whose ability to remain on the job has been ―frustrated‖ as a result of an illness or injury. Basically, the employer would be off the hook for providing severance pay to an employee who had a long-term illness. The Ontario Court of Appeal said that this legislation violates the Charter, and affects a crucially important aspect of the dignity of disabled people by denying them equal treatment & compensation in employment. The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled in a case in Toronto, Ontario where a nurse employed for 13 years by Mount Sinai Hospital, was sent a termination letter after being unable to return to work (RTW) after a non-work related injury she had suffered in August of 1995. She had tried several times to return to work, but suffered a relapse in January of 1996, and was approved for long-term disability benefits. Medical doctors were unable to determine when she might be able to RTW. The Attorney General and the lawyer for the hospital argued the ESA legislation for severance pay was meant to compensate workers moving ahead to new employment and was not discriminatory because ―employees unable to work because of injury or illness are unlikely candidates for returning to the workforce‖. Page 8 The Ontario Nurses’ Association argued that the purpose of severance pay was intended to compensate long-serving employees for their years of service and investment in their employers’ business. The court said that the hospital and government’s position reflects a stereotypical presumption about the adaptability, industry and commitment to the workforce of persons with disabilities sever and enduring enough to frustrate their employment. This generalization can only perpetuate and promote the view that disabled individuals are less worthy of recognition, value as human beings, and members of the Canadian Society.‖ Last year the Division Court ruled the legislation was unconstitutional because it denied disabled employees an employment benefit to which they would be entitled, just like other workers, were it not for their disability. Phil Brake, National Coordinator for the Canadian Injured Workers Alliance, called the decision a ―positive step‖ for injured workers. He said it would encourage employers to try harder to accommodate employees before letting them go. ―To our knowledge, Ontario is the first to do something like this,‖ he said in an interview from Newfoundland. The Hospital has 60 days to decide whether to seek an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance DOULEUR CHRONIQUE L’ACVAMT est fière de faire partie d’un organisme très important, la Coalition canadienne contre la douleur (CCD). Au cours de l’année écoulée, la CCD a œuvré très fort pour s’assurer que les personnes souffrant de douleurs chroniques reçoivent des soins appropriés et une reconnaissance. La CCD a déployé de gros efforts pour faire adopter une proposition à la Chambre, avec le soutien du Sénat, reconnaissant, chaque année, la première semaine de novembre comme étant la Semaine nationale de la sensibilisation sur le problème de la douleur. En novembre 2004, l’Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail a participé à un gala bénéfice à Toronto afin de recueillir des fonds pour lancer la Semaine nationale de sensibilisation sur le problème de la douleur. Le prochain gala bénéfice aura lieu le 3 novembre 2005. La CCD est en voie de se constituer en personne morale, ayant déjà adopté sa constitution et ses règlements. Elle a son site web que vous pouvez consulter à www.painhurtscanada.ca La prochaine réunion est prévue pour les 13 au 16 mai 2005 à Halifax. Indemnité de départ – Loi annulée : Les travailleuses et travailleurs handicapés doivent recevoir la même indemnisation! Un article de la Loi sur les normes d’emploi viole la Charte canadienne des droits! Un article de la Loi sur les normes d’emploi permet aux employeurs de refuser une indemnité de départ aux employés dont la capacité de demeurer au travail a été « contrecarrée » comme résultat d’une maladie ou d’une lésion. Fondamentalement, l’employeur ne serait pas tenu de fournir une indemnité de départ à un employé ou une employée ayant une maladie de longue durée. La Cour d’appel de l’Ontario a déclaré que cette loi transgresse la Charte et porte atteinte à un aspect d’une importance cruciale de la dignité des personnes handicapées en leur refusant une indemnité et un traitement égaux dans leur emploi. La Cour d’appel de l’Ontario a pris une décision dans un cas à Toronto où une infirmière employée depuis 13 ans par l’hôpital Mount Sinai a reçu une lettre de fin d’emploi après ne pas pouvoir réintégrer ses fonctions à la suite d’une lésion non liée à son emploi subie en août 1995. Elle avait essayé à plusieurs reprises de retourner au travail mais avait connu une rechute en janvier 1996, puis avait été admissible aux prestations d’invalidité de longue durée. Les médecins ne pouvaient pas déterminer à quel moment elle pourrait retourner au travail. Le procureur général et l’avocat de l’hôpital avaient fait valoir que cette loi sur l’indemnité de départ visait à indemniser les travailleurs et travailleuses qui se dirigent vers un nouvel emploi et qu’elle n’est pas discriminatoire parce que « les employés ne pouvant pas travailler par suite de lésion ou de maladie sont des candidats et candidates peu susceptibles de retourner sur le marché du travail ». L’Association des infirmières et infirmiers de l’Ontario a pour sa part dit que l’objet de l’indemnité de départ était d’indemniser les employés pour leur long état de service et pour leur investissement dans l’entreprise de l’employeur. La cour a déclaré que la position de l’hôpital et du gouvernement reflétait une présomption stéréotypée au sujet de l’adaptabilité, de l’industrie et de l’engagement envers la main-d’œuvre des personnes ayant des incapacités graves et assez durables pour contrecarrer leur emploi. Cette généralisation ne peut que perpétuer et encourager la conception selon laquelle les personnes handicapées sont moins dignes de reconnaissance et de valeur en tant qu’humains et membres de la société canadienne. L’année dernière, la Cour de secteur a décidé que la loi était inconstitutionnelle parce qu’elle refuse aux employés handicapés une prestation d’emploi à laquelle ils auraient droit, tout comme les autres travailleurs et travailleuses, si ce n’était de leur incapacité. Phil Brake, coordonnateur national de l’Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail, a qualifié la décision de mesure positive pour les victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail. Il a dit qu’elle encouragerait les employeurs à s’efforcer davantage pour accommoder les employés avant de les licencier. « À notre connaissance, l’Ontario est la première province à agir dans ce sens », a-t-il déclaré dans une entrevue à Terre-Neuve. L’hôpital a 60 jours pour décider s’il ira en appel devant la Cour suprême du Canada. Page 9 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Chronic Pain: The Manitoba Federation of Labour – Occupational Health Centre located in Winnipeg, MB has developed a program by physician Rob Chase, to help workers with musculoskeletal injuries, where the pain has spread to other areas. This pilot program is called ―Stretch, Massage, Breathe,‖ or ―SMB‖. OHC Clients having difficulties with chronic pain, discomfort and disability, meet once a week for a twoand-a-half hour session that includes education and exercise based on Yoga, self awareness and massage, and home based self-management of pain. This program is intended to help injured workers better understand their injury and develop practical skills to better manage their condition. The results of this program seem to be quite positive. According to follow-up studies, program participants have reduced their perceived level of pain and continue to reduce their pain in the months following the program. For more information visit the MFL Occupational Health centre website at: www.mflohc.mb.ca Phone: 204-949-0811 Email: mflohc@mflohc.mb.ca OFL / FOL DAY OF MOURNING STATS: The Ontario Federation of Labour provided a report of all Workplace Claims made with and accepted by WSIB. Interestingly, between 1980 and 2004, the average number of annual fatalities is 284 – which shows 325 in 1980 and 328 in 2004. At the time of this report, outstanding decisions for fatality claims were as follows: - 76 from 2002 - 35 from 2003 - 123 from 2004 These figures are not included in the stats. The majority of pending claims are for occupational disease, which now accounts for over 60% of the allowed fatal claims. Not reflected here is the true toll taken by occupational disease, estimated to be as high as 6,000 Ontario workers annually. This comes from a study entitled ―Occupational Disease & Workers’ Compensation‖, prepared by Dr. Annalee Yassi for Paul Weiler’s inquiry into the Ontario compensation system. Occupational cancer makes up a significant portion of occupational disease. In addition to the human Page 10 suffering, the health care costs of these cancers range from 130 million dollars to 500 million dollars. If the occupational cancers were recognized, most of this money would be reimbursed to the Ontario health care system by the WSIB. Few workers make the connection between their ill health and the unhealthy workplace exposures they’ve had over the years. In 2004, only 384 fatal occupational disease claims were made to the WSIB. In 1991, Bill C-223, An Act Respecting a Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace, a Private member’s Bill sponsored by Rod Murphy, NDP M.P., passed through all stages of the House of Commons and Senate. The bill, which now proclaims April 28 of each year as a National Day of Mourning, received royal assent on February 1, 1991, and is now law. According to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), commemoration activities are held in over 70 countries around the globe. �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Douleur chronique : Le centre de maladies professionnelles de la Manitoba Federation of Labour, situé à Winnipeg, a mis au point un programme du Dr Rob Chase pour venir en aide aux travailleurs et travailleuses ayant des lésions musculosquelettiques quand la douleur s’est répandue à d’autres parties du corps. Ce programme pilote s’appelle Stretch, Massage, Breathe (SMB) (s’étirer, masser, respirer). Les clients et clientes ayant des problèmes de douleur chronique, d’inconfort et d’incapacité se rencontrent une fois par semaine pour une session de deux heures et demie qui comprend de l’éducation et des exercices basés sur le yoga, la prise de conscience de soi et des massages; il y a aussi la gestion de la douleur à domicile. Ce programme vise à aider les victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail à mieux comprendre leur lésion et à développer des moyens pratiques pour mieux gérer leur état. Les résultats de ce programme semblent être très positifs. Selon des études de suivi, les participants et participantes ont réduit leur niveau de perception de la douleur et continuent à réduire leur douleur au cours des mois qui suivent le programme. Pour obtenir plus de renseignements, visitez le site web du centre de maladies professionnelles de la Manitoba Federation of Labour : www.mflohc.mb.ca Téléphone : 204-949-0811 Courriel : mflohc@mflohc.mb.ca STATISTIQUES SUR LE JOUR DE DEUIL FTO : La Fédération du travail de l’Ontario a émis un rapport sur toutes les demandes d’indemnité faites auprès de la CSPAAT et acceptées par celle-ci. Il est intéressant de constater qu’entre 1980 et 2004, la moyenne annuelle de décès était 284, soit 325 en 1980 et 328 en 2004. Le cancer professionnel occupe une part importante des maladies professionnelles. Outre la souffrance purement humaine, le coût de santé de ces cancers varie de 130 millions à 500 millions de dollars. Si les cancers professionnels étaient reconnus, la plupart de cet argent serait remboursée au système de santé ontarien par la CSPAAT. Au moment de publier ce rapport, les décisions en suspens pour les demandes d’indemnité pour décès s’établissaient comme suit : - 76 en 2002 - 35 en 2003 - 123 en 2004 Ces chiffres ne figurent pas dans les statistiques. Peu de travailleurs et de travailleuses font le lien entre leur mauvaise santé et l’exposition à un lieu de travail insalubre pendant des années. En 2004, seulement 384 demandes d’indemnité pour maladie professionnelle mortelle ont été déposées auprès de la CSPAAT. La majorité des demandes en suspens concerne les maladies professionnelles, qui représentent maintenant plus de 60 % des demandes d’indemnité accordées pour des décès. l'institution d'un jour de compassion pour les personnes tuées ou blessées au travail, soit un projet Ces chiffres ne tiennent pas compte du nombre réel attribué aux maladies professionnelles, lequel est estimé à autant que 6 000 travailleurs et travailleuses d’Ontario chaque année. Ce chiffre provient d’une étude intitulée Occupational Disease & Workers’ Compensation réalisée par le Dr Annalee Yassi dans le cadre de l’étude de Paul Weiler sur le système d’indemnisation de l’Ontario. En 1991, le projet de loi C-223, Loi concernant de loi d’un membre privé présenté par Rod Murphy, député NPD, a passé toutes les étapes de la Chambre des communes et du Sénat. Ce projet de loi qui proclame désormais le 28 avril de chaque année Jour de deuil national, a reçu la sanction royale le 1er février 1991 et est maintenant loi. D’après la Confédération internationale des syndicats libres (CISL), il y a des activités commémoratives dans plus de 70 pays partout dans le monde. Page 11 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail CPP / LTD / WCB - Benefits / Pensions Request from an Injured Worker: Dear Sir/Madam: I was injured at work in Nov/1995, and received WSIB / WCB benefits for 6 months. The WCB terminated my benefits based on a pre-existing impairment. me alive during the past 9 years, however also having to borrow money, and redeem retirement bonds before maturity. I appealed this decision with the assistance of the Office of the Worker Advisor, and was successful in having the WSIB decision overturned in Nov/2004. I have lost my retirement savings and investment interest, and paid interest on borrowed money which would have all been unnecessary if the WSIB had not erroneously terminated my compensation benefits. The WSIB has to pay me retroactively. I have been advised by the WSIB adjudicator that the money I have been receiving from the CPP Disability fund will be deducted from my back pay. How can this be? The CPP benefit is federal, while the WSIB is provincial, is it not? The CPP-D benefit kept ON – In Ontario the WSIB will not pay the worker full benefits if the worker is receiving benefits from an alternative source for the same disability. The WSIB will deduct the CPP, or an employees’ revenue from a private insurance policy, when benefits are paid for the same disability. WSIB is not taxable, but CPP is taxable. Therefore if there is a choice between collecting benefits from both agencies, and if the WSIB is going to deduct the CPP in any event, then the injured worker should collect the full payment from the WSIB with no income tax. If there are other reasons for collecting other benefits from CCP-D, or another LTD benefit, then those reasons should be clearly More information on this subject is available on the CPP web site under CPP Policy Review. Rodger, Ontario BC – British Columbia follows the general rules dictated with union contracts. A person receiving WCB benefits for an injury, is entitled to immediately apply for LTD upon which WCB benefits are discontinued. Various LTD plans allow the individual to collect benefits until 60 or 65 (dependent on occupation). Medical and superannuation coverage continues until Page 12 If someone could shed some knowledge on these matters, I would certainly appreciate your assistance. Thank You, Injured Worker in Ontario retirement. The employer pays all medical benefits and superannuation costs on behalf of the worker. Upon retirement, the employee receives company pension, CPP and OAS (age 65). Many private industry employers provide benefits which entitle their employees to apply for LTD. However, in most cases, the LTD entitlement is for a very limited time. When the LTD benefits expire, the employee must apply to the Canada Pension Plan for Disability benefits. The CPP-Disability benefits are calculated according to the total contribution that the applicant has credited. In many cases, the payment is very low, and the worker can apply to BC Social Assistance for Disability Benefits. However, when on BC Disability Benefits, there is no medical coverage included. So it is an additional expense to the worker. BC Social Assistance benefits are about $800.00 per month, but medical, prescription, eyeglasses, bus passes ($43.00/yr) are covered At age 65, the person may receive a company pension, plus Canada Pension and Old Age Security. Lee, BC �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance AB – In Alberta, an LTD plan is usually jointly funded by the employer and the employee. Most LTD plans ensure that you receive 70% of your pre-disability salary, up to a maximum of $3,000 per month. If any of the following sources of other income are received, the LTD benefit will be reduced by the amount of income you receive from these other sources: - CPP Disability, - WCB benefits - Any other employer-sponsored group disability plan benefits - Self Employment Income or ―Other‖ Income - Benefits awarded by a Crime Compensation Board Benefits from Public Service Super Annuity Act (PSSA) Disability Insurance Benefits payable under the legislation of any government Income replacement benefits under a no fault auto insurance plan Any amounts receive under a third part damage award. LTD’s are considered a taxable income. Gerry, AB Ontarians with Disabilities Act – Act Two: Disabled workers must get same compensation ! Employment Standards Act (ESA) section violates charter of rights ! Information from an article in ―Total Access‖ a Canadian Paraplegic Association magazine and the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Website Queen’s Park – The Ontario legislature today passed a historic law that will make Ontario a world leader in breaking down barriers for people with disabilities. The act will take effect on royal assent and will require government to work with partners to jointly develop standards to be achieved in stages of fives years or less, leading to a fully accessible Ontario in 20 years. The new legislation, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) promises to improve accessibility in workplaces and public spaces and improve access to employment, customer service, communications and transportation. The scope of the proposed legislation would be much broader than the previous legislation. For the first time, it would include the private sector, as well as government and the broader public sector. Under the proposed act, people with disabilities, stakeholders and the provincial government would develop standards that could deal with the width of aisles in buildings, staff training in serving customers with disabilities, large print menus or adaptive technology in the workplace. These standards would address the full range of disabilities and barriers including physical, mental, sensory, developmental and learning disabilities. According to Statistics Canada, there are approximately 1.5 million Ontarians with a disability – or about 13 per cent of the population. By 2025, it’s expected this number will increase to 20 per cent of the population – or three million people. To find out more about the Act, visit the ministry of Citizenship and Immigration website at: www.gov.on.ca/citizenship/accessibility/ Ergonomic Issues in Ontario Workplaces: Cathy Walker, Director of Health & Safety Dept. for CAW-Canada is currently a worker rep on the Minister’s panel looking at ergonomic issues in Ontario Workplaces. The first meeting of the Ontario Ministry of Labour’s Sub-committee on Ergonomics met on March 7, 2005. Members include the Minister’s Parliamentary Secretary, Kevin Flynn, as well as: Wayne Samuelson, OFL; Nancy Hutchison, Steelworkers; Maureen Shaw, IAPA; Mark Nantais, CVMA; John Macnamara, BCOHS. Assisting as well are the staff of WSIB & MOL. The Sub-committee plans to meet monthly to discuss issues such as codes of practice, regulations, best practices, policy and enforcement with an aim of reducing musculoskeletal injuries. A report to the Minister will be prepared and submitted by the beginning of September 2005. Page 13 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail WCB’s Failing Injured Workers: A summary of an article written by D.M. Boyle, a counselor and activist who is committed to fighting the injustices committed by WCB’s across Canada. His article appeared in Straight Goods, an internet based media publisher. For more information, or other related articles visit: www.straightgoods.com Will Workers’ Compensation protect you and your income if you have an injury at work? For up to five percent of workers who have permanent injuries, that answer is ―no‖. They have been denied benefits from Workers’ Compensation Boards and have no recourse or formal advocate to act on their behalf. The history of Workers’ Compensation in Canada begins in 1910. The WCB was conceived by the then Chief Justice of Ontario, Sir William Meredith. In his report to the provincial Conservative party he outlined what are now commonly referred to as the Meredith Principles: - No fault compensation - Collective Liability - Security of Payment - Exclusive Jurisdiction - Independent Board Since then, these principles have been so manipulated that it’s hard to see what is principle and what is simply a guideline. Accusations and claims have been mad that WCB’s practices unlimited authority over the injured worker. Medical practitioners have been threatened to change their reports to suit the adjudicator’s decision, or have their fee payment withheld. A seriously injured worker who is not likely to work again, and if their WCB claim is denied, another government agency is naturally pursued to help them with their daily living expenses, not to mention the medical treatments, medication, and so on. This is costing tax payers millions of dollars, when Worker’s Compensation is funded by employers, and across Canada they have assets worth billions of dollars. Injured workers cannot sue their employers, they cannot complain to the Human Rights commission, nor are they protected under the Canada Health Act. They can be misdiagnosed and mistreated. Even their unions discard them for not being able to keep up the dues. Injured Worker support groups are popping up daily on the internet. There you can find doctors and adjudicators names to help protect injured workers. They also warn injured workers to keep a copy of their own medical records and transcripts in case they somehow ―disappear‖ from their WCB files. A lot needs to be done to improve the Workers’ Compensation System in this country. All of us have a role to play to make that happen. Just because you are injured on the job doesn’t mean that you have to suffer for the rest of your life. Events to Remember April 28, 2005 International Day of Mourning February 28, 2005 RSI Awareness Day May 1 – 7, 2005 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH) June 1, 2005 Injured Workers Day April 17 – 23, 2005 National Volunteer Week 1st Week in November National Pain Awareness Week Page 14 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Miscellaneous RECOGNIZING A STROKE Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say that a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking the individual three simple questions: 1. SMILE. 2. RAISE BOTH ARMS. 3. SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE. If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage. A cardiologist stated that if every person who receives this e-mail sends it on to 10 people, you can bet that at least one life will be saved. Fun with Words Arbitrator: A cook who leaves Arby’s to work at McDonalds. Avoidable: What a bullfighter tried to do. Bernadette: The act of torching a mortgage. Burglarize: What a crook sees with. Control: A short, ugly inmate. Counterfeiters: Workers who put together kitchen cabinets. Eclipse: What an English barber does for a living. Heroes: What a guy in a boat does. Left bank: What the robber did when his bag was full of money. Misty: How golfers create divots. Paradox: Parasites: Pharmacist: Polarize: Primate: Relief: Rubberneck: Selfish: Sudafed: Two physicians What you see from the top of the Eiffel Tower. A helper on the farm. What penguins see with. Removing your spouse from in front of the TV What trees do in the spring. What you do to relax your wife. What the owner of a seafood store does. Brought litigation against a government official. Congratulations! Mr. Dave MacKenzie – a long time Board of Director with CIWA/ACVAMT was recently elected in his home town of Westville Pictou County, Nova Scotia as Town Counsellor for a 4 Year Term. Congratulations !!! We’d like to extend our Sincerest Best Wishes to him during his term. Page 15 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Our Goals CIWA/ACVAMT Is about SUPPORT We are a national network of injured worker's groups (IWG's) and we exist to strengthen and support the work of local and provincial IWG's across Canada.  To work towards a just  INDEPENDENCE We believe that injured workers should be in control of their own destinies & Injured Workers Groups must be democratically controlled by injured workers.  PARTNERSHIPS  We believe that we can best assist these objectives by providing training and educational resources in partnership with provincial or territorial organizations of injured workers and the trade union movement at all levels.   INFORMATION SHARING We believe that by sharing our stories and our experience we can learn from each other and become better educated and exert more control over our lives.  system of compensation, rehabilitation and reemployment in all of Canada. To provide a national forum for debating issues concerning injured workers at national conferences and board workshops. To gather and share information with groups across Canada. To improve the Occupational Health & Safety of workers across Canada. To identify and make available, educational and training resources produced by the union movement and other agencies, that focus on organizing and maintaining effective injured worker groups. To enhance the local base of the injured workers movement through all our activities. To form partnerships that will achieve common goals. Publications Available         The VOICE OF INJURED WORKER PLAIN TALK HOW TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN INJURED WORKERS & ORGANIZED LABOUR REPORT ON RELATIONS WITH LABOUR SESSION AT CIWA NATIONAL CONFERENCE, REGINA 1992 RETURNING TO WORK VOC REHAB & RE-EMPLOYMENT FROM THE INJURED WORKER'S PERSPECTIVE INJURED WORKERS … ON THE MOVE COMING TOGETHER VIDEOS & WORKBOOKS  YOUTH PROJECT MANUAL, 2002  SURVIVORS, 1997  TOGETHER WE CAN WIN, 1997  PEER HELPER TRAINING MANUAL, 2000 - "PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE"  LE COMBAT QUOTIDIEN DES VICTIMES DU TRAVAIL, 1999 To find out more, please contact us at: CIWA/ACVAMT P.O. Box 10098, 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6R2 Ph: 807-345-3429 Fx: 807-344-8683 Toll Free: 1-877-787-7010 Email: ciwa@vianet.ca Web Site: www.ciwa.ca Connect with an injured workers group near you. Check out our web site at: www.ciwa.ca and click on "Who to Contact"  OR  Call our office at (807) 345-3429 or Toll Free at 1-877-787-7010 This Newsletter is intended to share information of interest to injured workers/ groups / organizations, union activists and their supporters. It provides a forum for sharing our experiences - so we can learn from each other - in order to improve the lives of injured and disabled workers and the system that is there to assist them. Please help - by sharing your story with us. Printed by CUPE 87 / Imprimé par le SCFP 87 Page 16 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CIWA Highlights Newsletter Spring/Summer 2005 Description An account of the resource Upcoming CIWA activities. Articles about RTF/RTW Round Table, the CLC 2nd National Disability Rights Conference, CAW annual compensation conference, CIWA board of directors meeting, chronic pain, OFL Day of Mourning stats, a law that meant employers didn't have to provide disabled workers severance pay being overturned, rules around benefits and pensions for disabled workers in Ontario, British Colombia and Alberta, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, ergonomic issues in Ontario workplaces, WCB failing injured workers, recognizing a stroke. Jokes and events. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource CIWA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2005 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English French Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Subject The topic of the resource Labour and Labour Unions https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/bfa8d995b00f89981abda56a895838b3.pdf a76bc0913d108d6cf06c927dcef3606c PDF Text Text CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL SALES AGREEMENT #1685422 YOUTH PROJECT FOLLOW-UP MEETING Toronto, ON - March 20 – 21, 2004 The Board of Directors of the Canadian Injured Workers Alliance through the help of additional funding was able to have a very much needed follow-up meeting with some of the Youth that took part in our Project called: “The Youth Project”. This meeting took place in Toronto, Ontario, in March 2004, and we are very pleased with the outcome and results of this meeting. We would like to thank HRDC for this special opportunity that would not have otherwise been possible. Please find a report written by Rob Lindsay, in relation to this special follow-up meeting inside this issue on page 5. Table of Contents CIWA/ACVAMT contacts ....................................... 2 Special Appreciation.............................................. 3 Thank You page .................................................... 4 Youth Project, cont’d ............................................. 5 CIWAY Board of Directors ...................................... 6 Cdn Survey on Youth Health & Safety ..................... 6 Day of Mourning Article by Tara Dorval ................... 7 USWA Policy Convention Article .............................. 8 C.I.W.A./ACVAMT Activities ........................... 8, 9, 10 Miscellaneous .......................................................11 CIWA/ACVAMT Info ............................................. 12 Page 1 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail PLEASE HELP ………… S U B S C R I B E T O D A Y ! Name: ________________________________ Date: Organization: ________________________________ Address: ________________________________ Highlights is published 4 times per year ________________________________ Injured Worker/Unemployed $ 5.00 __________ Postal Code ________________________________ Individuals $ 10.00 __________ Phone ________________________________ Organizations $ 15.00 __________ Fax ________________________________ Donations $ E-Mail ________________________________ Total Web Site ________________________________ THANKS for Your SUPPORT! ________________________________ Newsletter Subscription: __________ $ __________ Editor’s Note This newsletter is for sharing and exchanging information. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the individuals or groups making submissions. We take no responsibility for their accuracy or for their opinions. PROVINCIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF CIWA/ACVAMT VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS… EXECUTIVE OFFICERS… BC ... Lee Harrison, Surrey President Secretary Treasurer AB… Gerry Gray, Red Deer SK ... Robert Lindsay, Regina Western Injured Workers Society (Sask.) MB… Vincent Boyce, Winnipeg NS... Dave MacKenzie, Pictou County PEI ... Leonard J. Crawford, Summerside Rob Lindsay Lee Harrison Vincent Boyce ADVISORS… Andy King, U.S.W.A. Orlando Buonastella & Marion Endicott, Injured Workers Consultants STAFF… Phil Brake, National Coordinator Monika Wiitala, Office Manager SUMMER STUDENTS… Tara Dorval, Youth H&S Research Assistant Greg Berry, Web Master L’ALLIANCE CANADIENNE DES VICTIMES D’ACCIDENTS ET DE MALADIES DU TRAVAIL MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 10098 Thunder Bay, Ontario. P7B 6T6 Phone: 807-345-3429 Fax: 807-344-8683 Page 2 CANADIAN INJURED WORKERS ALLIANCE Toll Free 1-877-787-7010 STREET ADDRESS 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 6R2 email: ciwa@vianet.ca Web-site: www.ciwa.ca �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Special Appreciation April 28, 2004 To Labour Organizations Who helped with attendance of our Youth members at the Day of Mourning Ceremonies in Ottawa, Ontario We would like to express our sincere appreciation and thanks to the following: Western Injured Workers Society Labrador West District Labour Council Regina Outside City Workers, Local 21 USWA USWA, Labrador Local These donations enabled three of our board members of the Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Youth (CIWAY) to attend the ceremonies along with three Board Members of the Canadian Injured Workers Alliance (CIWA). This event was hosted by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), at Queen’s Park in Ottawa on April 28, 2004. CIWA is a national organization that exists to strengthen and support the work of local, provincial and territorial injured workers’ groups across Canada. We believe that we can best assist in these objectives by providing training and educational resources in partnership with provincial or territorial organizations of injured workers and labour organizations. Once again, a big thank you to these organizations for their very generous donations. Page 3 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Century Farm Waterfront Cottages Point Prim, Prince Edward Island Thank you for your wonderful hospitality during our meeting in June. We experienced a wonderful atmosphere which allowed our Board meetings and AGM to run smoothly. Our Volunteers Thank you to all those who volunteer their time for our organization. Thanks to the Board of Directors of CIWA. Thanks to all the Youth who attended our meeting in Toronto in March, and created the Youth Division of CIWA. Thanks for all the work you have been, and will be putting into the research and development of this division. Canadian Labour Congress For your generous offerings of inclusion in all your activities. The scholarships provided for the Winter and Summer schools available for two regions of the country. The Health & Safety Conferences which we participate in, such as the one coming up in November 2004 in Montreal, Quebec. In general, we thank you for your commitment to injured and disabled workers’ groups, their members, and your support for workers’ rights and issues. Page 4 HRDC Thank you for providing the Operational Funding required to continue maintaining and managing our organization for yet another term. �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail YOUTH PROJECT FOLLOW-UP MEETING Toronto, ON - March 20 – 21, 2004 (Continued from Cover Page) This is a brief report of the ―Youth Project Follow Up Meeting” that was held in Toronto, Ontario. We wanted to find out from the youth what worked and what didn't work from the training they received for our Youth Project— which took place between 2000 and 2002—in order to come up with solutions for improvements on their future presentations. When the youth were consulted about their experiences with the Youth Project, we found there was an overwhelming concern for the apparent lack of funding and physical support that is imperative for the mobilization of the youth initiative. The youth were asked to break up into groups and come back with a 45 minute presentation on how things worked and how things didn't work, and to also come back with some concrete solutions on how and what we need to do to improve the situation and presentations. They were also asked to present a 15 minute skit related to their concerns, regarding the importance of a safe and healthy workplace. Throughout the day we assisted the groups with their presentations and ensured that they were hard at work. Not to our surprise, the youth worked very hard at getting their presentations and skits perfected for March 21st, the presentation date. Many of them worked right through into the evening to get it done. It was just amazing to see the vigour they put forth into their work. This was the same interest they had exhibited in the projects they had participated in before. On the morning of the 21st of March, everyone met and discussed how they were going to do the presentations. In addition, two of the youth spoke about different issues with regard to the importance of this project, which was absolutely wonderful. The presentations began and it was overwhelmingly amazing to see the work and interest that these young people had taken in the cause. The most important issue that came out of these presentations was that they all recognized the importance of a safe and healthy workplace. Perhaps the most encouraging feedback was the inherent willingness and motivation the youth expressed about proactively doing something to ensure that all workers across Canada have fair access to a safe and healthy workplace. Furthermore, to our pleasant surprise, the youth stated that they wanted to become part of CIWA, and that they wanted to create their own division within CIWA! They had decided to form their own organization called: “Canadian Injured Workers Alliance of Youth – CIWAY”. They held elections and formed their own Board of Directors, which includes a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Board Members. They ensured that their Board of Directors was set up to represent all provinces that were in attendance, and to work on having complete provincial representation in the near future. Currently, CIWAY has representation in the Yukon, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, P.E.I., Labrador & Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia. Their dedication was apparent when they worked at it until 10:00 P.M. that evening to make sure they had everything in place so they could commence their quest to start working towards a safe and healthy workplace for all-especially youth. This was a great achievement for these youth, as they see the need for such an organization to be in place for the youth all across Canada—educating, sharing information and working with each other in regards to O.H.&S. They want to develop a newsletter geared towards youth, develop a special youth web site, and complete projects in the future to continue training youth about their rights and their responsibilities in the workplace. They recognized that they would not have been able to accomplish what they did without the support of CIWA, HRDC, and, of course, the donations from labour. CIWA is also very proud to be able to report back to HRDC the excellent outcome of a well organized project that they had sponsored, and hope that they too would be very proud of the outcome. Page 5 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail CIWAY – Canadian Injured Workers Alliance of Youth BOARD OF DIRECTORS – MARCH 2004 BOARD MEMBERS / Provincial Reps ANDREW BACCHUS Toronto, ON PRESIDENT TARA DORVAL Thunder Bay, ON VICE PRESIDENT DUSTIN EASTMAN Regina, SK SECRETARY JULIE SHOEMAKER TREASURER JESSICA BELANGER Sommerset, MB Winnipeg, MB DAWN HAMILTON Labrador City, NF PAIGE MOORE Montague, PEI AMANDA PERREAULT Brampton, ON DEAN RUDD Whitehorse, YT LILI TRINH Toronto, ON SCOTT WOLBAUM Regina, SK JAMIE WOODHOUSE Winnipeg, MB For information on how to contact any of the above provincial representatives, please contact the office located in Thunder Bay, Ontario at 807-345-3429, or toll free: 1-877-787-7010, fax: 807-344-8683, email: ciwa@vianet.ca or visit our website at www.ciwa.ca Canadian survey on youth health and safety in the workplace Received from Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia, Shelley Rowan, Director, Communications: FOR PREVENTION, YOUTHS NEED MORE INFORMATION AND TRAINING HALIFAX, Oct. 15 /CNW/ - Young workers ask for more information and training about health and safety at work. Compensation boards and commissions will meet with employers and educators, workers associations and unions representatives to take action about the poor health and safety situation of youth at work. "The young workers surveyed consistently showed a definite lack of training in the workplace. Only 13% of all youth respondents say they recall receiving information about workplace health and safety from schools. Even if young workers surveyed do not seem as concerned about dangers and injuries as older workers (12% vs. 24%), many report that they would take action if they felt threatened by unsafe working conditions but would not necessarily discontinue working. The Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada will meet with board and commission's partners to discuss the issue of health and safety of young Canadian workers at its 2nd public forum that will take place in Montreal on October 26-28, 2004. For further information and interviews: Shelley Rowan, Director, Communications, Workers' Compensation Board of Nova Scotia, (902) 491-8105, shelley.rowan@wcb.gov.ns.ca Page 6 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail National Day of Mourning May 28th, 2004 - 20th Anniversary By Tara Dorval, President CIWAY From Australia to Taiwan, many countries around the world have named April 28th the official marker of Workers’ Memorial Day—a day that recognizes those who have been injured or killed as a result of hazardous workplace environments. In Canada, this day of commemoration is widely known as the National Day of Mourning. Thus, on April 28th of every year, nearly the entire globe reserves this universal day to ―mourn for the dead and fight for the living.‖ Ever since the Canadian Labour Congress first incited the Day of Mourning as a period of remembrance in 1984, memorial ceremonies have been honoured around the world to provide a forum for change, and unite people in a moment of silence. Sponsored in partnership by the Canadian Labour Congress, the Ottawa & District Labour Council, and the Ottawa & District Injured Workers’ Group, Ottawa held one such ceremony on April 28th—the 20th anniversary of the National Day of Mourning. Several members of the freshly formed youth division of CIWA, known as the Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Youth (CIWAY), attended this ceremony. They held their own CIWAY banner high and proud, so everybody in attendance could see that youth are visibly concerned and conscientious citizens, too. A ceremonial wreath was placed at the foot of the National Monument out of respect for those workers who have died from occupational hazards and diseases. Rob Lindsay, the President of CIWA, and Tara Dorval, the President of CIWAY, addressed the audience about the urgency and commitment to keep occupational health and safety issues affront in the public eye, so that safety initiatives will remain engaged and proactive rather than reactionary and stagnant. All those who spoke or listened that day had reached a consensus that many of the injuries and fatalities that occur in the workplace are not just accidents, but, nonetheless, preventable crimes of negligence. It was the first time that a Youth organization in support of injured workers rights, had attended the National Day of Mourning ceremonies in Ottawa—at the forefront of the service. Everybody from all walks of life who were there, including mourning families and supportive friends, union representatives, social advocates, the media, and politicians along with leftwingers and centres, had taken notice of CIWAY due to this exposure. In fact, many of the speakers proceeding after Rob and Tara soon acknowledged the presence of youth in the movement of worker health and safety, and most importantly, recognized that young workers are the most at-risk demographic for workplace injury and death. As a result, the 2004 National Day of Mourning in Ottawa has opened up many eyes and minds to the concerns of young worker safety. This is imperative for active change to be implemented in the crusade for workers rights—the rights of those who come from all walks of life, and finally, those of all ages. Page 7 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail CIWA/ACVAMT Current Activities CLC Winter Schools - Harrison Hotsprings - Abbotsford, BC - CAW H&S Centre, Port Elgin, ON Board of Directors Meetings - January 2004, Edmonton, AB - March 2004, Toronto, ON - June 2004, Point Prim, PEI AGM - June 2004, Point Prim, PEI Formation of Youth Division of CIWA - at Board meeting and Youth Project follow-up meeting in Toronto, ON – March 2004 Day of Mourning Ceremonies – April 28, 2004 - Ottawa, ON USWA Steelworkers of America Policy Convention – April 21 – 25, 2004 - Vancouver, BC CLC 2nd National Disability Rights Conference – November 11-14, 2004 - Montreal, QC Alberta Workers’ Health Centre – “A Global Workplace: Challenges & Strategies for Occupational Health & Safety” Conference – October 2004 - Banff, AB Round Table Project – September 2004 - Toronto, ON UNITED STEELWORKERS’ OF AMERICA POLICY CONVENTION APRIL 21 – 25, 2004, VANCOUVER, BC CIWA was invited to the Steelworkers’ of America Policy Convention held in Vancouver, BC, April 21 – 24, 2004. Phil Brake, our new National Coordinator, Robert Lindsay, our new President, and myself Lee Harrison, BC Representative and Secretary attended the Convention. We had the opportunity to set up our information booth. Many people attended the Convention, and we were well received. CIWA was recognized by many of the delegates. We handed out many information pamphlets. Interest was shown in our completed project reports, videos, resources, and copies of our Newsletters. We all had the opportunity of meeting the outgoing USWA National Director, Lawrence McBrearty. Ken Neumann was sworn in as the new USWA National Director and Steve Hunt is the new District 3 Western Canada Director. I appreciated the opportunity of meeting with the USWA. We are pleased that they continue to support CIWA in our efforts to assist Injured and Disabled Workers’ across Canada. Lee Harrison, Secretary BC Representative Steve Hunt New District #3 Western Canada Director Lawrence McBrearty Retiring National Director, USWA Ken Neumann New National Director, USWA Page 8 Robert Lindsay President, CIWA Addressing the Convention �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail CIWA/ACVAMT Current Activities INTERNET Our web site provides an open forum and easy access to information for clients on a truly global basis—24 hours a day and seven days per week. Information available on the site and referral links provide clients with access to information they require in order to develop and pursue a plan of action in managing injuries and disabilities. Clients are able to discover service providers situated locally, and obtain direct contact information for our office. Internet based communication has also enhanced the effectiveness and information flow amongst the Canadian Injured Workers Alliance’s Board of Directors. This permits Board members to function across the vast distances between the Provinces and Territories within which they live. A successful funding application through the HRDC, ―Summer Career Placement Program‖, allowed for the hiring of a student to upgrade and maintain our website once again this year. Greg Berry has given our web site a whole new refreshing look. Please check it out at www.ciwa.ca. Our Youth Page was revised, copies of Canadian Injured Workers Alliance newsletters posted to the site, as well as various other enhancements to website functionality. The site was also updated with all current information from our databases. The forum page allows persons to post their experiences as well as view other’s stories, and request others for their input. INFORMATION & REFERRAL Referral services are constantly provided to injured workers, injured worker activists, organizations, and the media. Canadian Injured Workers Alliance responds to information requests via telephone, email, fax, and office walk-ins. Information and referral services are a key element of our mission, and a valued service to those who contact us seeking information and resources. Clients have sought and received information on a wide variety of topics including Worker’s Compensation issues, ergonomics in the workplace, and Health and Safety matters among others. Frequently, clients who contact us exhibit effects of emotional upset and stress. These clients may be attempting to deal with substantial changes in both their work and home lives, in addition to serious financial impacts associated with work related injuries. The appropriate aid that these individuals require will therefore stem from one or all of the following classes of referral: 1) Case Management Assistance of managing claims, completing reports, obtaining required documentation, acquisition of medical documentation, understanding claim determinations, appeals processes. 2) Emotional Support Assistance to the injured or disabled worker and the immediate family in dealing with change, adjustment, depression, stress, anxiety etc. 3) Medical Support Obtaining diagnosis, treatment, therapy. Counseling on alcoholism, substance abuse. 4) Financial Management Adjusting to income changes, debt consolidation, credit counseling, and financial solvency issues. As part of our referral process, we give individuals the opportunity ―to tell their stories‖ and be heard. Clients need a source to turn to where their voices will be heard, and where they can discover new directions to apply their energies in an applicable effort to resolve troubling issues. In 2003, Canadian Injured Workers Alliance was an instrumental aid in the intervention and referral of a client that prevented the potential suicide of an injured worker whose emotional condition had reached a critical state. As a result, this individual was able to obtain the supports he needed to address both the emotional and practical issues of the crises he was enduring. Page 9 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail ROUND TABLE CIWA continues to be actively involved on the Advisory Board with the Round Table Project. Another meeting is scheduled for September 2004, in Toronto, Ontario. BUILDING INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES One of the key barriers to the effective governance and communication of local organizations is conflict within the group, and/or conflict with related groups in the community. CIWA submitted a proposal in March 2004 to HRDC, Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP-D). We are hopeful in receiving funding for this proposal, a pilot phase thus titled: ―Building Inclusive Communities‖ (formerly known as ―Conflict Resolution that Works!‖). This project is about helping injured and disabled workers, who volunteer in local self-help/advocacy groups, to increase their effectiveness and involve more people in the social change process towards inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian life. STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ORGANIZED LABOUR CIWA has attended spring & winter schools hosted by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), for a number of years now. Most recently, CLC afforded us the opportunity for two of our representatives in two regions to attend CLC Winter School training sessions in Ontario and British Columbia. The Canadian Labour Congress is hosting it’s 2nd National Disability Rights Conference in November, 2004, in Montreal, Quebec, titled ―Doing MORE – Moving FORWARD‖, where CIWA will also have representatives attending. If you are interested in attending this conference, the registration fee is $250.00, and the deadline to register is October 12, 2004. For more information contact their office at: Ph: 613-521-3400, Ext. 202 Fx: 613-521-3959 Email: women&hrights@clc-ctc.ca The CLC has purchased land in Ottawa to build a monument commemorating April 28th, National Day of Page 10 Mourning, in memory of lives lost due to workplace accident or occupational disease. CIWA was very proud to be part of the Ceremonies taking place in Ottawa along side the CLC for the National Day of Mourning on April 28, 2004. BOARD OF DIRECTORS The CIWA Board of Directors has held their regular board meeting in Point Prim, PEI, in June, 2004. In addition to the regular Board meeting, CIWA also had it’s AGM and invited injured worker groups from that area to attend. The Executives of the Board of Directors meet on a regular basis to review financial statements and discuss ongoing issues. Sub-committees also meet on a regular basis to review plans and goals for CIWA. The CIWA Board of Directors will meet again in the fall sometime via conference call to continue to direct the organization and review its goals, activities and current activity progress. CHRONIC PAIN Our volunteer board members have been actively researching and in contact with the Canadian Pain Coalition, developing partnerships, and developing a study on the causes and effects of chronic pain. CIWA has been invited by members of the medical community to form part of a coalition to increase awareness of the importance of finding solutions for persons suffering from this disease. Chronic pain occurs in the early stages following an injury. Understanding, preventing, and treating debilitating and persistent pain associated with an injury can factor on whether or not an injured person will develop chronic pain. Persons suffering from chronic pain become powerless and feel that they have no control over what is happening to them, as it drains away their strength, independence and happiness. The Chronic Pain Conference, focused on the importance of Peer Support sessions. Representatives from injured worker groups in attendance acknowledged that peer support actually reduced the risk of chronic pain, as persons related their pain and experiences with each other. Find out more at: www.curepain.ca �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Miscellaneous Recommended Internet site – – – The new Office of the Worker Adviser Web site is ―Live‖. Check it out at: www.owa.gov.on.ca http://www.owa.gov.on.ca It has an abundance of useful resources on-line such as sample letters for appeals, how to acquire a copy of your file through the Freedom of Information Act, and links to sites such as the Workplace & Insurance Act (Ontario). PIPEDA – Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act - - This is the federal legislation that applies to organizations as of January 1, 2004. PIPEDA establishes outcomes regarding the collection of personal information in the course of commercial activities. The legislation affects the type of personal information that is collected and how it is maintained, used and disclosed. The Coalition of Ontario Voluntary Organizations is partnering with Capacity Builders to develop training sessions to help not-for-profit organizations understand and comply with the Act. Are you interested? Contact: Joan M. Christensen at the Coalition of Ontario Voluntary Organizations, Toronto, ON Ph: 416-7841420 / Fx: 416-256-3021 / Email: general@covo.on.ca or visit their website at www.covo.on.ca. Summary information about the Act for Non-Profit organizations is also available at http://garberconsulting.com/nonprofit_news_03_12.htm. It is the site of Nathan Garber & Associates Consulting & Training for the Not-for-Profit Sector. It also contains a lot of other interesting information for non profits. Bill No. 20 – Workers’ Compensation Act (NS). – Chronic Pain - - An Act to Amend Chapter 10 of the Acts of 1994 – 95 of the WC Act, and Chapter 7 of the Acts of 1996, of the Occupational Health & Safety Act, Bill No. 20 as was introduced on October 16, 2003 regarding the Workers’ Compensation Act of Nova Scotia. The Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling on October 3, 2003 regarding Chronic Pain establishes it to be a compensable injury. Chronic Pain is defined in S. 10A of the Workers’ Compensation Act as follows: ―Chronic Pain‖ means pain: a) Continuing beyond the normal recovery time …. b) disproportionate to the type of personal injury that precipitated, triggered, or otherwise predated the pain, and includes chronic pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, myofacial pain syndrome, and all other like or related conditions, unless significant, objective, physical findings at the site of the injury indicate the injury has not healed. For more information on the Supreme Court of Canada Decision of October 3, 2003 visit the Court Challenges Program at http://www.ccppcj.ca or contact the office of the Canadian Injured Workers Alliance. Bill C-45 – Employers’ Criminal Liability in Health and Safety Issues - Canada now holds employers criminally liable for health and safety issues which cause harm to workers, ―Sending the Boss to Jail‖ is now possible under Bill C-45. 12 years ago, the lobbying efforts of then-leader of the NDP, Alexa McDonagh and the labour movement, especially the CLC and the Steelworkers, finally forced the federal government to take action by enacting legislation as a result of the Westray tragedy in Nova Scotia. Bill C-45, The ―Westray Bill‖ received Royal Assent in November 2003, and took effect March 31, 2004. Page 11 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Our Goals CIWA/ACVAMT Is about SUPPORT We are a national network of injured worker's groups (IWG's) and we exist to strengthen and support the work of local and provincial IWG's across Canada.  To work towards a just  INDEPENDENCE We believe that injured workers should be in control of their own destinies & Injured Workers Groups must be democratically controlled by injured workers.  PARTNERSHIPS  We believe that we can best assist these objectives by providing training and educational resources in partnership with provincial or territorial organizations of injured workers and the trade union movement at all levels.   INFORMATION SHARING We believe that by sharing our stories and our experience we can learn from each other and become better educated and exert more control over our lives.  system of compensation, rehabilitation and reemployment in all of Canada. To provide a national forum for debating issues concerning injured workers at national conferences and board workshops. To gather and share information with groups across Canada. To improve the Occupational Health & Safety of workers across Canada. To identify and make available, educational and training resources produced by the union movement and other agencies, that focus on organizing and maintaining effective injured worker groups. To enhance the local base of the injured workers movement through all our activities. To form partnerships that will achieve common goals. Publications Available         The VOICE OF INJURED WORKER PLAIN TALK HOW TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN INJURED WORKERS & ORGANIZED LABOUR REPORT ON RELATIONS WITH LABOUR SESSION AT CIWA NATIONAL CONFERENCE, REGINA 1992 RETURNING TO WORK VOC REHAB & RE-EMPLOYMENT FROM THE INJURED WORKER'S PERSPECTIVE INJURED WORKERS … ON THE MOVE COMING TOGETHER VIDEOS & WORKBOOKS  YOUTH PROJECT MANUAL, 2002  SURVIVORS, 1997  TOGETHER WE CAN WIN, 1997  PEER HELPER TRAINING MANUAL, 2000 - "PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE"  LE COMBAT QUOTIDIEN DES VICTIMES DU TRAVAIL, 1999 To find out more, please contact us at: CIWA/ACVAMT P.O. Box 10098, 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6T6 Ph: 807-345-3429 Fx: 807-344-8683 Toll Free: 1-877-787-7010 Email: ciwa@vianet.ca Web Site: www.ciwa.ca Connect with an injured workers group near you. Check out our web site at: www.ciwa.ca and click on "Who to Contact"  OR  Call our office at (807) 345-3429 or Toll Free at 1-877-787-7010 This Newsletter is intended to share information of interest to injured workers, union activists and their supporters. It provides a forum for sharing our experiences - so we can learn from each other - in order to improve the lives of injured and disabled workers and the system that is there to assist them. Please help - by sharing your story with us. Printed by CUPE 87 / Imprimé par le SCFP 87 Page 12 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CIWA Highlights Newsletter Summer 2004 Description An account of the resource Articles about the followup to a Youth Project, a survey on youth health and safety in the workplace, the 20th anniversary of the National Day of Mourning. CIWA current activities. A thank you letter for labour organizations that donated and helped CIWA with the Day of Mourning celebrations in Ottawa. Information about the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, Bill 20 and Bill C-45. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource CIWA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2004 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Subject The topic of the resource Labour and Labour Unions https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/2f4a52e198aca5a657b3a812475fa096.pdf 9632a7caed36d306aa2b4c6de9cec948 PDF Text Text CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL SALES AGREEMENT #1685422 Duty To Accommodate Re: Human Rights Tribunals Unions And Employers We are starting to see a very serious trend regarding lack of employer concern for employees, and fair treatment in regard to Duties to Accommodate. Over the past decade we have seen many employers not looking after their employees by not accommodating them back into the work force. Society has always placed the responsibility of Duty to Accommodate, solely on the employer. I believe that Unions need to be held dually responsible, and ensure that their members are properly represented. An example of how responsibilities should be placed on unions as well as employers, is witnessed in the DECISION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL, October 10, 2003 according to Section 28 (2) of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code (―Code‖) and the Duty to Accommodate in the workplace, in the case of Gary Wayne Kivela vs. the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 21 and the City of Regina, in the. Both parties were held responsible, the employer, for not accommodating; and the union for non-representation. The award for damages to the employee by the Tribunal’s Decision will cost the employer and the union a tremendous amount of money now in the future. Some unions even tell their members that they are not obligated to represent employees regarding WCB CLAIMS. This issue must surely also come also under non-representation. Employers and unions must realize from the outcome of this Human Rights Tribunal that they are both responsible for ensuring that the injured worker or anyone with a disability must be represented and accommodated in returning the individual back into the work force. We understand that there are already three more possible human rights cases in the process, in the Province of Saskatchewan alone. Empowered with the confidence that proper union representation is available for members, a much stronger, productive, and united force in the workplace would exist. Robert Lindsay Table of Contents CIWA/ACVAMT contacts ....................................... 2 Special Appreciation.............................................. 3 Healthy Workplaces .............................................. 4 Study on Charitable Fundraisers ............................ 5 Short Stats ........................................................... 6 Eye Exercises ........................................................ 6 Bridging the GAP ................................................... 7 C.I.W.A./ACVAMT Activities ............................... 8 - 9 Miscellaneous .......................................................10 WorkSafe .............................................................11 CIWA/ACVAMT Info ............................................. 12 Page 1 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail PLEASE HELP ………… S U B S C R I B E T O D A Y ! Name: ________________________________ Date: Organization: ________________________________ Address: ________________________________ Highlights is published 4 times per year ________________________________ Injured Worker/Unemployed $ 5.00 __________ Postal Code ________________________________ Individuals $ 10.00 __________ Phone ________________________________ Organizations $ 15.00 __________ Fax ________________________________ Donations $ E-Mail ________________________________ Total Web Site ________________________________ THANKS for Your SUPPORT! ________________________________ Newsletter Subscription: $ __________ __________ Editor’s Note This newsletter is for sharing and exchanging information. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the individuals or groups making submissions. We take no responsibility for their accuracy or for their opinions. PROVINCIAL REPS TO THE STEERING COMMITTEE VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS… EXECUTIVE OFFICERS… BC ... Lee Harrison, Surrey, BC President Secretary Treasurer AB… Gerry Gray, Red Deer SK ... Robert Lindsay, Regina Western Injured Workers Society (Sask.) Phil Brake Rob Lindsay Vincent Boyce ADVISORS… Andy King, U.S.W.A. Orlando Buonastella & Marion Endicott, Injured Workers Consultants MB… Vincent Boyce, Winnipeg LAB Phil Brake, Labrador City NS... Dave MacKenzie, Pictou County PEI ... Leonard J. Crawford, Summerside STAFF… Monika Wiitala, Bookkeeper, Desktop Publisher, Database Manager, General Office Person L’ALLIANCE CANADIENNE DES VICTIMES D’ACCIDENTS ET DE MALADIES DU TRAVAIL MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 10098 Thunder Bay, Ontario. P7B 6T6 Phone: 807-345-3429 Fax: 807-344-8683 Page 2 CANADIAN INJURED WORKERS ALLIANCE email: ciwa@vianet.ca Toll Free 1-877-787-7010 Web-site: www.ciwa.ca �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Special Appreciation Donation of Air-Miles From: Mr. Tom White We would like to express our sincere appreciation and thanks to Mr. Tom White in Labrador – Newfoundland, for his generous donation of air miles to our organization. This donation enabled five of our Steering Committee members as well as one staff person to meet in Vancouver, BC. Each year our Steering Committee meets in different cities across Canada and invites local injured worker groups to attend workshops specially designed to answer any questions which they may have regarding our organization or organizing their own group. CIWA is a national organization that exists to strengthen and support the work of local, provincial and territorial injured workers’ groups across Canada. We believe that we can best assist in these objectives by providing training and educational resources in partnership with provincial or territorial organizations of injured workers and labour organizations. Recently with the help of injured workers and youth, we developed a project called the Youth Project. The Youth Project was created to increase awareness of occupational health and safety and to reduce the incidence of workplace injury and disease among young workers. In addition, the project aimed to increase the involvement of young people in community-based injured workers’ organizations. Once again, a big thank you to Mr. Tom White for his very generous donation. Page 3 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Are Healthy Workplaces more productive? De milieux de travail sains sont-ils plus productifs? Friday, June 6, 2003 – Are healthy workplaces more productive? It would certainly be hard to argue the converse. Le Vendredi, 6 juin 2003 – Des milieux de travail sains sont-ils productifs ? Il serait certes difficile de soutenir le contraire. Intuitively, there have to be benefits from ensuring a healthy workforce and a healthy workplace. But, as with all population health matters, it isn’t so easy to quantify the impact on output of a dollar spent on improving working conditions. Nor is it easy to determine how much of the benefit accrues to the employer, to the individual, and to society as a whole. And that, of course, raises the question of who should be responsible for ensuring a healthy workplace. Intuitivement, s’assurer que la main-d’œuvre est en santé et que les milieux de travail sont sains doit sûrement présenter des avantages. Mais, comme c’est le cas de toutes les questions relatives à la santé de la population, il n’est pas facile de chiffrer l’impact sur la production d’un dollar dépensé pour améliorer les conditions de travail. Il n’est pas facile non plus de déterminer la proportion de l’avantage qui est dévolue à l’employeur, à l’employé et à la société dans son ensemble. Pour cette raison, on peut se demander à qui devrait revenir la responsabilité d’assurer un milieu de travail sain. Email News received from: ―e-network‖ <e-network@lists.cprn.org> In a recent report prepared for Health Canada, Work Network Research Associate, Graham Lowe, explores the relationship between workplace health and productivity. He tackles two questions from an interdisciplinary perspective:  What work environment and organizational factors improve workers’ health and wellbeing?  Are organizations that promote good health for their employees more productive? Lowe’s message for employers: workplace wellness programs can yield cost savings and productivity payoffs. But he also points to the public policy interest in workplace health. Healthy work environments contribute to the well-being of workers and to economic performance. They also reduce the overall costs of both public and private health care. Lowe concludes that governments must treat health, employment and economic issues as related policy spheres. For plenty of other interesting related material (all downloadable), and a weblog on high quality work that is updated daily, visit the Web site of The Graham Lowe Group at: www.grahamlowe.ca Page 4 Email News received from: ―e-network‖ <e-network@lists.cprn.org> Dans un rapport récent préparé pour Santé Canada, Graham Lowe, associé de recherche au Réseau de la maind’œuvre, analyse les liens qui existent entre un milieu de travail sain et la productivité. Il aborde deux questions dans une perspective interdisciplinaire :  Quels sont les aspects du milieu de travail et les facteurs organisationnels qui contribuent à améliorer la santé et le bien-être des travailleurs ?  Les organisations qui font la promotion de la bonne santé de leurs employés sont-elles plus productives ? Le message de Lowe pour les employeurs : les programmes de mieux-être en milieu de travail peuvent entraîner des réductions de coûts et des gains de productivité. Mais il souligne aussi l’intérêt que la santé en milieu de travail soulève pour les politiques publiques. Des milieux de travail sains contribuent au bien-être des travailleurs et à la performance économique. Ils permettent aussi de réduire les coûts d’ensemble des régimes publics et privés de soins de santé. Lowe conclut que les gouvernements doivent considérer la santé, l’emploi et les questions économiques comme des domaines de politiques connexes. Pour de nombreux autres travaux d’intérêts connexes (tous téléchargeables) et un relevé de travaux de haute qualité qui est mis à jour quotidiennement, visitez le site Web « The Graham Lowe Group » à l’adresse : www.grahamlowe.ca �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail The following is a condensed news release concerning highlights of a study released March 24, 2003 by the Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN) and the Association of Fundraising Professions (AFP). The study is the first to assess the working conditions, standards and professional concerns of fundraisers across Canada. A Power Point presentation of the highlights is available on the CPRN and AFP Web sites at www.afpnet.org. Study on Canadian Charitable Fundraisers – A First March 24, 2003 – Toronto, ON – Professional fundraisers are the key to the future success of Canada’s non-profit sector. Canadians have come to rely on non-profit organizations to deliver an increasing range of essential goods and services. At the same time, public sector cutbacks have left the non-profit sector facing increasing demand with diminished resources. This leaves nonprofit organizations more dependent on fundraising than ever before. Despite this, we know very little about the professionals charged with generating non-profit resources. A new study by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN) addresses that knowledge gap. AFP hopes to use the data collected in the study to promote the critical importance of the non-profit sector in Canada. The survey was conducted through the support of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada, AFP International Headquarters, AFP Greater Toronto Chapter, AFP Calgary Chapter, The Hospital for Sick Children Foundation, DVA Navion, Ketchum Canada Inc., Anne Moore & Associates and an anonymous donor. The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents more than 26,000 members in 170 chapters throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education, and certification programs. The Association fosters development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession. For more information visit www.afpnet.org CPRN is a national not-for-profit research institute whose mission is to create knowledge and lead public debate on social and economic issues, important to the wellbeing of Canadians, in order to help build a more just, prosperous and caring society. For more information visit www.cprn.org For more information on this study, contact: Joyce O’Brien, Senior Director of Public Affairs, AFP, Tel: (800) 666-3863 x 457, Email: jobrien@afpnet.org or Peter Puxley, Director of Public Affairs E-mail: ppuxley@cprn.org Website: http://www.cprn.org 600-250 Albert St Ottawa, Ontario Tel: 613 567-6665 // Fax: 613 567-7640 Join e-networks, CPRN's weekly news service: http://www.cprn.org/cprn-e.html NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS - Useful Information Volunteer Lawyer Service This project is funded by the Government of Ontario, Ministry of Citizenship – Voluteer@ction.online Program. This is the first web site in Canada dedicated solely to pro bono legal services. It is an outreach tool for small and medium sized communities and provides more efficient and timely delivery of pro-bono services in Ontario. http://volunteerlawyers.org/online/index.html Charitable Status and Political Activities The United Way has published a Bulletin that explains the CCRA’s (Canada Customs and Revenue) Policy Statement that many activities previously deemed political, will now be considered charitable. For more information, contact: Bill Morris of United Ways of Ontario, Manager, Government Relations, at: 800-307-8528, or 416-359-2051 or email: bmorris@uwgt.org or see Information Circular 87-1, Registered Charities Ancillary and Incidental Political Activities. A link to HRDC/CCRA policy on Charities and Political Activities. http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/E/pub/tp/ic87-1/ic87-1e.html Page 5 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Statistics to make you and think: 1. According to the International Labour Organization, every year around two million workers die because of their jobs. 2. Every single day of the year, more people die at work than died in the terrorist attacks of September 11,th, 2001 3. Each year there are about 17,000 lost time injuries due to falls in the workplace. 4. “Same level falls” like slips and trips account for 65% of all fall-related injuries. 5. Falls from heights that range from a few centimeters to 120 stories account for 34% of work-related deaths that occur in Ontario. Eye Exercises: Give these a try. They will certainly help! From The Doctor's Office - Shaelyn Osborn, D. C. | Editor http://www.brantcountyhealth.org/doctors_office.cfm *Changing Focus Hold a magazine or book as close to your eyes as possible without the print becoming blurred. Focus on the words for 15 seconds. Then, look at an object at least 10 feet away and focus on that. Refocus on the magazine; then refocus again on the distant object. Repeat five times. This exercise helps build stamina so you don't experience eye fatigue as often when working on close tasks. *Eye "Push Ups" Hold a pencil at arm's length in front of your face. Slowly move it toward your nose, holding your focus at the same spot on the pencil. The objective is to bring the pencil to the tip of your nose before you see a double image of the pencil. This exercise strengthens the "convergence ability" of your eyes (that is, the ability of both eyes to aim at the same task), which helps prevent eyestrain and may eliminate the "floating print" that can occur when your eyes are tired. *Eye rolls Close your eyes. Slowly roll your eyes in a complete circle; then move them from left to right. Repeat this exercise three times. This improves blood and oxygen flow to your eyes. *Palming & Cupping Note: If you wear contact lenses, remove them before trying this exercise. Close your eyes. Place the base of your palms over your eyes and press gently for a few seconds. Then cup your hands and place them over your open eyes. Look into your cupped palms as you slowly breathe in and out through your nose for 30 seconds. This exercise relaxes tired eyes. *Blinking or Yawning Both actions produce tears to help moisten and lubricate the eyes. Unicity.com Page 6 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail “Bridging the GAP” Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) has just release it’s second edition of ―Bridging the GAP‖. This is a directory which highlights and contains up-to-date and brief information on how to access a broad range of programs and services of the Government of Canada, which enable Canadians with disabilities to participate fully in the economic and social life of Canada. The information is organized by categories such as accessibility, education, employment, employment and income supports and transportation. Information on these programs and services is also available at www.pwd-online.ca. The following is a sample from a guide we received from the Government of Canada which is also available on the Internet at: www.service-canada.gc.ca. This guide is intended for any entity that speaks or writes displays about issues that affect persons with disabilities and asks that respectful terms and images are used. A Way with Words and Images Suggestions for the portrayal of persons with disabilities http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca INSTEAD OF … Using images that isolate or call special attention to persons with disabilities unless appropriate to the subject matter. Using actors or models without disabilities to represent persons with disabilities. Always depicting the super-achieving individual to represent all persons with disabilities. Birth defect, congenital defect, deformity Blind (the) Visually impaired (the) Cripple, crippled, lame PLEASE USE … Use images that show persons with disabilities participating in society. Use actors or models with disabilities to portray persons with disabilities. Whenever possible, the typical individual who has a disability. Person born with a disability, person who has a congenital disability Person who is blind, person with a visual impairment Person with a disability, person with a mobility impairment, person who has a spinal cord injury, arthritis, etc. Le pouvoir des mots et des images Conseils généraux pour une représentation adéquate des personnes handicapées http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca ÉVITER D’EMPLOYER OU DE DIRE UTILISER OU DIRE Se server d’images qui insolent ou qui attirent l’attentino sur les personnes handicapées, sauf lorsque ces images conviennentau sujet traité. Faire apel à des acteurs ou à des modèles non handicaps pour representer des personnes handicapées. Toujours représentter les personnes handicaps comme des <<superhéros>>. Le vieillard, le vieux Utiliser des images qui montrent les personnes handicapées participant à la sociétè. Une anomalye une informité ou une malformation congénitale Un aveugle, un handicapé visuel Un infirme, un invalide, un estropié Demander à des acteurs ou à des modéles handicpés de jouer les roles des personnes handicpées. Décrire si possible, une personne ordinaire qui est handicapée. Personnes âgées Des adjectives comme fragile, senile ou faible projettent une image negative des personnes âgées et elles ne devraient pas être employées. Personne né avec une déficience, personne handicapée depuis sa naissance Personne aveugle, personne ayant une déficience visuelle Personne handicapée, personne ayant un handicap moteur, personne ayant de l’arthrite ou une lesion de la moelle épiniére, etc. Page 7 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail CIWA/ACVAMT Current Activities Internet Fortunately, we were able to secure funding through the HRDC, ―Summer Career Placement Program‖ to hire a summer student to work on the website this year. Check out some new looks on our site at www.ciwa.ca. Steering Committee The Steering Committee met in Vancouver, BC, from April 29th to May 5th, 2003. Thanks to a donation of Air Miles, Travel Miles from Mr. Tom White from Newfoundland, we were able to cover practically the entire travel costs for this meeting. Round Table Project on Safe & Timely Return to Function/Return to Work CIWA has been actively participating on the Advisory Committee in a ―Round Table Project‖. The committee is made up of representatives from federal and provincial governments, the medical community and labour market sectors. The project focuses on ―Safe & Timely Return to Function, Return to Work‖. The vision of the Round Table Project Stakeholders is ―To improve the systems that help people with illness, injury or disability from any cause, develop and secure their social, personal and economic self-sufficiency and to help stakeholders in the field identify and overcome barriers together.‖ In addition to meeting in person this year, the Executives of the Steering Committee meet on a regular basis via conference call, to review financial statements and discuss ongoing issues, on-going activities, and to review the direction of CIWA. Sub-committees also meet on a regular basis to review the progress of their plans and goals. Through CIWA’s participation in the Round Table discussions, we were asked to actively participate in the advisory committee, and to direct the future development of the project. It is important that we become more involved in this project. The Steering Committee will meet in the fall sometime and will make plans for the next physical meeting (location, agenda, etc). Canadian Injured Workers Alliance/ACVAMT attended the Canadian Pain Summit in Ottawa in November of 2002. This summit was organized by the Canadian Consortium on Pain Mechanisms, Diagnosis and Management, working with the Canadian Pain Society. The consortium is a group of researchers from across Canada representing basic, clinical and social sciences, which was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to further develop pain research. Youth Project We are continuing research and proposal writing to continue and expand on the Youth Project. We are hoping to train more folks across the country. Many people, who were not able to attend the previous sessions, expressed a great interest in the project. If you are interested in becoming involved in our future Youth Project, please let us know by contacting the office at 1-877-787-7010 or by emailing us at ciwa@norlink.net Chronic Pain Summit CIWA is in the process of partnering with the Canadian Pain Society in establishing a Canadian Pain Network. This consortium is holding follow-up meetings with stakeholder groups, and pursuing initial funding opportunities for its current work, another summit, and the Canadian Pain Network through the 2003 Network of Centres of Excellence Program. The reason they want to create a Canadian Pain Network is: - Canadians suffer unnecessary pain. - Pain is under-researched and under-treated. - Pain has enormous impact on individuals, families, society and the economy. Page 8 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail CIWA/ACVAMT Current Activities (Continued) The consortium would see that the Canadian Pain Network would: - Stimulate multidisciplinary work and streamline the links among researchers, health professionals, the public, government and industry; - Formalize the dissemination of new knowledge, and allow assessment of the impact of knowledge translation; - Streamline the process of translating knowledge to the marketplace for innovative products and services aimed at reducing pain and its impact; - Solidify the base of evidence needed for effective treatment, good policy decisions and productive future research; and - Focus on training future generations of highly qualified personnel. We are very excited about this project and look forward to this partnership. Coming Together CIWA believes it needs to increase its membership and this can partly be accomplished through a follow-up of the Coming Together Project. CIWA continues to work on developing a second component to the Coming Together Project. CIWA has submitted a proposal in June, to the Canada Volunteerism Initiative. We are hopeful in receiving funding for this proposal, a pilot phase entitled: ―Conflict Resolution that works!‖ This project was developed with the objective of seeing the development, testing and evaluation of conflict resolution tools and a training program with a focus on building inclusive organizations that reflect the diversity of their communities. We will use an interactive approach, using plain language principles in order to engage local volunteers who may have low literacy comprehension. In order to accomplish the goal of helping injured worker groups to develop and become strong, we plan to coordinate activities such as meeting with local injured worker groups, holding press conferences and local events when traveling to other organized activities, such as our Steering Committee meetings. Organizations in Prince Edward Island and Alberta have both expressed interest in becoming more involved in our organization. Strengthening Relationships With Organized Labour We continue to work towards developing a strong relationship with organized labour in order to help create a better relationship with injured workers and injured worker groups. CIWA has been invited to attend spring & winter schools hosted by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) for a number of years now. Recently, two of our representatives attended CLC training sessions in Nova Scotia and British Columbia. CIWA is proud to take part in these events and to be present at the forefront of advocating for injured and disabled workers along with the CLC. CIWA is pleased that CLC is making injured workers issues a high priority. This illustrates that CIWA does have an impact on the labour community and the awareness of injured and disabled workers issues. One of our representatives has also recently attended a meeting of the Canadian Labour Congress – Occupational Health, Safety & Environment (CLC – OHS&E) and WCB Committee. The CLC has secured land in Ottawa, to build a monument commemorating April 28th National Day of Mourning in memory of lives lost due to workplace accident or occupational disease. The CLC is planning a mid term conference in October which our board members will be attending as well. The session attended in Nova Scotia was a ―Think Tank‖ on ―Return to Work‖. Representatives from across the country shared experiences and strategies to reemploy injured and disabled workers. A man knocked on the pearly gates of heaven, his face was ragged and old. St. Peter asked “What have you done to gain admission to the fold?” The man replied, “I’ve fought for many years with the WCB.” The gate swung open wide, St. Peter rang the bell. “Come in” he said, “you’ve had your share of hell.” Page 9 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Miscellaneous Web Sites of Interest London Occupational Safety & Health Centre A United Way funded agency, is a community based, non-profit resource centre and library. Their aim is to prevent— and help people recover from— workplace injuries. Every person has the right to a safe and healthy workplace. Find out about the student teaching project. Read about the young worker who died after falling 6 metres from a steel beam on July 31, 2003. www.losh.on.ca Community Legal Education Ontario CLEO is a community legal clinic that produces clear language material for people with low incomes. Main topics include social assistance, landlord and tenant law, refugee and immigration law, workers' compensation, women's issues, family law, employment insurance and human rights. www.cleo.on.ca United Ways of Canada "To improve lives and build community by engaging individuals and mobilizing collective action." www.unitedway.ca March of Dimes of Canada Serving Canadians with physical disabilities. Promoting programs, advocacy, research and prevention. Find out about the new “Disability Travel Card”. It provides identification to a person with a permanent disability allowing an accompanying adult attendant to travel at no cost. http://www.esmodnc.org/marchofdimesc anada.htm National Fibromyalgia Association This site has excellent links to all kinds of resources for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain across Canada, Internationally,and in the USA. http://www.fibronorth.com/links.html Page 10 Survivor Support on Enablelink Visit EnableLink to connect with electrical burn survivors and those who treat or support them. www.enablelink.org International RSI Awareness Day Visit this web site to find out about RSI Awareness Day, held on the last day of February, it is the only "non-repetitive" day on the calendar and is officially observed on February 29th. http://www.ctdrn.org/rsiday Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety CCOHS promotes a safe and healthy working environment by providing information and advice aobut occupational health and safety. Visit: www.ccohs.ca Work Smart Ontario Visit: www.worksmartontario.ca For more informative links check out our web site, or check this site from Paul Marxhausen, who is with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. http://eeshop.unl.edu/rsi.html The Court Challenges Program of Canada This is a national non-profit organization which was set up in 1994 to provide financial assistance for important court cases that advance language and equality rights guaranteed under Canada's Constitution. The Program has a volunteer Board of Directors responsible for making sure the administration of the Program runs smoothly. In addition, there are specialized, independent panels to make decisions as to which cases or projects will be funded and in what amounts. The Language Rights Panel and the Equality Rights Panel are made up of experienced and knowledgeable individuals with a history of involvement in equality or language issues and community organizations. You can find more information on-line about the Court Challenges Program of Canada at: www.ccppcj.ca “Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day. Teach him to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Inner Strength If you can start the day without caffeine or pep pills, If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains, If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles, If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it, If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time, If you can overlook when people take things out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong, If you can take criticism and blame without resentment, If you can face the world without lies and deceit, If you can conquer tension without medical help, If you can relax without liquor, If you can sleep without the aid of drugs, If you can do all these things.................................. Then you are probably the family dog. Important Dates To Remember: FEBRUARY 28, 2004 - RSI AWARENESS DAY APRIL 28, 2004 - NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING (20TH ANNIVERSARY) JUNE 1, 2004 - INJURED WORKERS DAY (Ontario) workSafe An information email received fro Simon Hardman simon@binarylogic.biz One way to Combat Repetative Strain Injuries. on Web Site: www.binarylogicgroup.com The worksafe programme from Binary Logic monitors your computer related work pattern and decides when a break is required by using a real time analysis engine. It measures work input of both keyboard and mouse usage and is not merely based on a time out system. The engine is tuned as closely to the human body as practicably possible, whilst utilizing Einstein’s theory of special relativity. The software monitors and shows the users strain, based on current and previous computer usage. This is partly based on the individual user settings of how frequently RSI strain is suffered, and the speed of their recovery. The programme identifies exercise movies with a brief description of the movement required to ease the strain. make-your-business-work-software.com Last fall we received some information on a software program that helps people who are experiencing discomfort working at the computer. It works by running in the background of the operating system, neutralizing an irritating inaudible noise in the microprocessor at the heart of the computer. The following is an excerpt from their web-site about their program. Here's what Beta testers reported: • • • • • Increased task performance and overall productivity Increased clarity of mind and ease when focusing on work Increased satisfaction and comfort while working on the computer Decreased eye strain and relief from upper body tension (including wrists and fingers) Decreased fatigue for working as long as they want on the computer How can a software program do this? The software program works with the microprocessor at the heart of your computer to neutralize an inaudible noise found in man-made electricity. The chaotic influence is instantly transformed into an orderly influence so you can get more done on your computer. So far everyone who has tried this software has found it indispensible for working on the computer. Page 11 �Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Our Goals CIWA/ACVAMT Is about SUPPORT We are a national network of injured worker's groups (IWG's) and we exist to strengthen and support the work of local and provincial IWG's across Canada.  To work towards a just  INDEPENDENCE We believe that injured workers should be in control of their own destinies & Injured Workers Groups must be democratically controlled by injured workers.  PARTNERSHIPS  We believe that we can best assist these objectives by providing training and educational resources in partnership with provincial or territorial organizations of injured workers and the trade union movement at all levels.   INFORMATION SHARING We believe that by sharing our stories and our experience we can learn from each other and become better educated and exert more control over our lives.  system of compensation, rehabilitation and reemployment in all of Canada. To provide a national forum for debating issues concerning injured workers at national conferences and board workshops. To gather and share information with groups across Canada. To improve the Occupational Health & Safety of workers across Canada. To identify and make available, educational and training resources produced by the union movement and other agencies, that focus on organizing and maintaining effective injured worker groups. To enhance the local base of the injured workers movement through all our activities. To form partnerships that will achieve common goals. Publications Available         The VOICE OF INJURED WORKER PLAIN TALK HOW TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN INJURED WORKERS & ORGANIZED LABOUR REPORT ON RELATIONS WITH LABOUR SESSION AT CIWA NATIONAL CONFERENCE, REGINA 1992 RETURNING TO WORK VOC REHAB & RE-EMPLOYMENT FROM THE INJURED WORKER'S PERSPECTIVE INJURED WORKERS … ON THE MOVE COMING TOGETHER VIDEOS & WORKBOOKS  YOUTH PROJECT MANUAL, 2002  SURVIVORS, 1997  TOGETHER WE CAN WIN, 1997  PEER HELPER TRAINING MANUAL, 2000 - "PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE"  LE COMBAT QUOTIDIEN DES VICTIMES DU TRAVAIL, 1999 To find out more, please contact us at: CIWA/ACVAMT P.O. Box 10098, 1201 Jasper Drive Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6T6 Ph: 807-345-3429 Fx: 807-344-8683 Toll Free: 1-877-787-7010 Email: ciwa@vianet.ca Web Site: www.ciwa.ca Connect with an injured workers group near you. Check out our web site at: www.ciwa.ca and click on "Who to Contact"  OR  Call our office at (807) 345-3429 or Toll Free at 1-877-787-7010 This Newsletter is intended to share information of interest to injured workers, union activists and their supporters. It provides a forum for sharing our experiences - so we can learn from each other - in order to improve the lives of injured and disabled workers and the system that is there to assist them. Please help - by sharing your story with us. Printed by CUPE 87 / Imprimé par le SCFP 87 Page 12 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CIWA Highlights Newsletter Winter 2003/2004 Description An account of the resource Articles about the Duty To Accommodate re: Human Rights Tribunals for Unions and Employers, Provincial Reps to the Steering Committee, special appreciation for donation from Mr. Tom White. Email news for the question "Are Healthy Workplaces more productive?" Condensed news release on the study on Canadian Charitable Fundraisers. Update of non-profit organizations, statistics for injured workers, eye exercises. Review of publication "Bridging the Gap", suggestions for the portrayal of persons with disabilities, CIWA/ACVAMT Current Activities, website suggestions, important dates. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource CIWA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2003, 2004 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CIWA Highlights Newsletter Winter 2003/2004 Description An account of the resource Articles about the Duty To Accommodate Re: Human Rights Tribunals for Unions and Employers; email news- "Are Healthy Workplaces more productive?"; research from "Study on Canadian Charitable Fundraisers"; response to Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) "Bridging the GAP". Special appreciation to Mr. Tom White for donation; useful contacts for non-profit organizations; eye exercises; language suggestions for the portrayal of persons with disabilities; injured workers statistics information; current CIWA/ACVAMT Activities; websites of interest. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource CIWA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2003, 2004 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Subject The topic of the resource Labour and Labour Unions https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/b561d6fe21422899768a1351ced3ca11.pdf 00a6ffd7a9ee7249676926aa3f40655c PDF Text Text CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL SALES AGREEMENT #1685422 Focus on Employer’ Attack This issue of our Also we have news on an exciting CIWA/ACVAMT project reaching out to youth in our communities (see pg. 3 for more info). You may want to get involved. As well, there are news and views from across the country so please, read on. We encourage you to write in to Highlights, with your story or news in your area of Canada. The next issues will focus on the Employer attack on Injured Workers‟ benefits. Visit our Web-site at http://www.ciwa.ca Table of Contents CIWA/ACVAMT contacts ...................... 2 Youth Project ...................................... 3 News & Happenings ............................ 4 Rehab-(Physio vs Primary Caregiver)(Eng/Fr) . 5 - 6 Medical Issues ..................................... 7 – 9 Letters to Editor ........................... 10 – 11 CIWA/ACVAMT Info ........................... 12 Page 1 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance PLEASE HELP ………… S U B S C R I B E ! Name: ________________________________ Date: Organization: ________________________________ Address: ________________________________ Highlights is published 4 times per year ________________________________ Injured Worker/Unemployed $ 5.00 __________ Postal Code ________________________________ Individuals $ 10.00 __________ Phone ________________________________ Organizations $ 15.00 __________ Fax ________________________________ Donations $ __________ E-Mail ________________________________ Total $ __________ Web Site ________________________________ THANKS for Your SUPPORT! ________________________________ Newsletter Subscription: Editor’s Note This newsletter is for sharing and exchanging information. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the individuals or groups making submissions. We take no responsibility for their accuracy or opinions. PROVINCIAL REPS TO THE STEERING COMMITTEE BC … Craig McLachlan, North Vancouver COMPONET SK ... Robert Lindsay, Regina Western Injured Workers Society (SASK) MB… Vincent Boyce, Winnipeg Injured Workers Association of Manitoba ON... Jessica Schmidt, Kitchener Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups QC... EXECUTIVE OFFICERS… NF... NATIONAL COORDINATOR … LAB Patricia Dodd, St. John's NLIWA Phil Brake, Labrador City USWA NB... NS... Dave MacKenzie, Pictou County YT… Robbie King, Whitehorse Yukon Injured Workers Alliance President Secretary Treasurer Phil Brake Rob Lindsay Patricia Dodd ADVISORS… Andy King, U.S.W.A. Orlando Buonastella & Marion Endicott, Injured Workers Consultants STAFF … Melanie Smith, Executive Assistant Monika Wiitala, Bookkeeper, Desktop Publisher, Database Manager L’ALLIANCE CANADIENNE DES VICTIMES D’ACCIDENTS ET DE MALADIES DU TRAVAIL MAILING ADDRESS: CANADIAN INJURED WORKERS ALLIANCE P.O. Box 10098 Thunder Bay, Ontario. P7B 6T6 Phone: 807-345-3429 Fax: 807-344-8683 Toll Free 1-877-787-7010 Page 2 email: ciwa@norlink.net Web-site: www.ciwa.ca �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance CIWA/ACVAMT Youth Project HAVE YOU HEARD …..? We are pleased to announce that The Canadian Injured Workers Alliance has now held ____________training sessions for the Youth Project in Ontario and British Columbia! The first training session was held in Thunder Bay, Ontairo The second session was held in Orillia, Ontario The third session was held in B.C. There was an awesome turnout of young folks and injured worker activists from local groups across the province! In total, 38 folks attended the sessions. Participation was extremely high and contributed greatly to the success of each of the sessions! Thanks everyone for making Phase II of the project a great success! What was the main item on the agenda, you ask? Well, the main focus was learning how to present a 45 minute workshop on Workplace Health and Safety to youth. The workshop is interactive and includes a combination of skits, facts and personal stories. And of course, getting to know each other was very valuable! By sharing experiences and ideas and participating in a variety of exercises, folks learned more about each other and their similarities and differences. The result: By the end of the session, participants were quite comfortable with the workshop and the idea of presenting it to youth! As well, folks learned from each other, built links and had FUN! In addition, many injured workers left the session with a better understanding of how to reach out to young people and get them involved in injured workers‟ issues. BE A KEY PLAYER Good News! Our funding to take the project across the country has been approved. As a result, we will soon be holding a session in your area! If you are or someone you know is interested, contact your CIWA Provincial Representative or CIWA directly on our toll free number at 1-877-787-7010. Let’s try to get as many people involved as possible by spreading the word about the Youth Project to all those we know! Recommended Reading “Fast Food Nation”, by Eric Schlosser Houghton-Miffin (http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com) Gerry Tremere suggests this is a great, great book. Every injured worker should read Chapter 8, “The Most Dangerous Job”. An injured worker in Colorado won a $2,000,000 US lawsuit from a company that tried to deny him WCB. The book deals with the abuses of our new age McJob economy. (He borrowed it from the Library) Thanks to the Social Development Partnership Program of HRDC for the funding necessary to produce this newsletter. Page 3 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance News & Happenings DO YOU KNOW OF YOUNG WORKERS Who Died as a Result of Their Work? The Friends of the Quilt Committee has been looking for names of young workers (ages 15-24) who have been injured or killed on the job. These names are included on the Quilt For Life, a quilt mural being created by visual artist, Laurie Swim. This quilt was support to be completed in November 2001. The finished work will tour across the country during the next two years. The CAW Newsletter November/December 2001 invites you to be part of this exciting and worthwhile project. You can spread the word about this Quilt, invite others to contact the Friends of the Quilt Committee to share their story, making financial or in-kind donations, or even volunteer to help construct the quilt. For more information, contact Laura Pascoe at the Workers Health and Safety Centre at 416-441-1939, 1-888-8697950, laura@whsc.on.ca Page 4 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance WHAT’S A GOOD JOB? The Importance of Employment Relationships The Canadian Policy Research Networks recently released a study by Graham Lowe and grant Schellenberg on what it is that makes a „good job.‟ Typically „good jobs‟ have been associated with so-called standard, full-time jobs and „bad jobs‟ with contingent types of employment such as temp work, part-time jobs or self-employment. The study seeks to flesh out our understanding of employment relationships from workers‟ actual experience. The authors define employment relationships in terms of their legal basis and in terms of four social/psychological components: trust, commitment, influence, and communication. Their conclusion is that “not all non-standard jobs involve week employment relationships. Nor do standard jobs necessarily guarantee strong employment relationships.” This study merits serious attention from trade unionists as it offers new insights about the nature of both standard and non-standard work. For instance, many temporary help agency workers consider themselves to be permanent employees by virtue of their relationship with an agency. As a result, there could be as many as 50 per cent more temp workers out there than typically thought. In a different vein, the study shows what many already suspected: 12 per cent of self-employed individuals have a “high overlap with paid employment – they could be „disguised employees‟.” The study fleshes out the legal arrangements governing employment. For instance, while virtually all unionized workers have a written contract, less than one-half of non-unionized workers have only a verbal agreement with their employer. While some conclusions of the study will be self evident to most, i.e. the strength of individuals‟ appreciation of their job largely reflects the environment in which they work, that a healthy and supportive work environment is the most important factor in creating „robust‟ employment relationships, that organizational change, such as downsizing and restructuring, is associated with reduced levels of trust, commitment and worker influence, the study contains many findings that might be useful for both organizing and negotiation purposes. Page 5 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance ROTATING SHIFTS HURT WORKER Michelin man suffered a „disabling‟ ailment Shift work that results in badly disrupted sleep patterns and leaves workers unable to function safely is a compensable workplace injury, a Nova Scotia Page 6 Workers‟ Compensation Board appeals tribunal has ruled. �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Employer’s Attack Strong words ... however, in the opinion of workers injured on the job, these words are not strong enough. Workers' Compensation is a mandatory, employer financed, no-fault insurance system which was designed to provide benefits to workers for workplace injuries and diseases. The fundamental principles of Workers‟ Compensation legislation were established by The Meredith Royal Commission in 1913. These principles, which were incorporated into all provincial Workers' Compensation legislation, have been grossly misunderstood, misrepresented and distorted to the benefit of employers. Following are a few examples of such manipulation of a system that was created to benefit both the employers and the employees. Security of payment: Many employers, across the country, work to ensure that claims are not accepted. Often, they do so by trying to prove that some preexisting condition is at fault. If you are active in sports, hobbies or work around the house, the employer frequently tries to link the injury to those activities instead of work duties. Commonly, applications for compensation are being denied and delayed as the worker is considered guilty until s/he proves him/herself innocent. Most importantly, many employers are lobbying intensively that "benefit of doubt" not be given to the worker. No-fault system: With the "historic compromise", workers gave up their right to sue the Employer in exchange for fair compensation. No longer is this nofault system stable or an option for many workers. The erosion of workers‟ rights, mainly the right to fair compensation, may be directly related to the demands of many employers to have less responsibilities placed upon them and to employers attempts to deny workers of their financial and moral rights. Employer funded collective liability: "The sins of the past and the present" have a lot of employers fighting with all their might because they don't want a collective liability fund. They only want to pay for their own costs. Administration by an independent agency: A number of employers want independent investigators and believe that management should be given these responsibilities because employers don't trust the Board. As such, the employers attack is directed at the worker to avoid their liability and their accountability. Injured workers can not sue their employers: This practice was supposed to benefit employers and workers to avoid years of court cases & the costs associated with that process. Today, giving up the "right to sue" by the employee is not considered to be in the best interest of the worker. The employers attack is real, and it is believed to be destructive to the healthy functioning of our society. The employers attack is making a mockery of the Nofault system that was put into place to help and to protect workers and employers. Today, workers across the country would certainly oppose giving up the right to sue, if we were considering an alternative system! Editor’s Note: ………………….. Page 7 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Employer’s Attack (continued) In order to report to our readers on the subject of “Employer‟s Attack” for information on each of our provinces, we asked our Steering Committee members the following questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What are employers demands regarding Workers Compensation? How do they promote their demands, do they have a strategy? For example, do they use other Provinces as examples? Please explain. How does the Government respond to the demands of employers? Are employers successful in having their demands implemented? If yes, what are the issues? How is the injured worker movement responding in each province? These are the responses we received: British Columbia Northwest Territories / Yukon In the Yukon, many employers are demanding that Workers‟ Compensation reduce assessment rates, create stricter benefit payments to injured workers and employ an advocate for employers. In order to promote their demands, employers use other provinces as examples. When we (injured workers and activists) point out that the Yukon is the smallest jurisdiction in the country and that problems in other provinces are not necessarily applicable here, our comments fall on deaf ears. Employers‟ tactics are working because, unfortunately, the government listens to their demands. Here, the government is a member of the Chamber of Commerce which we feel is grossly out of line!!! On the other hand, they are not a member of the Yukon Federation of Labour. Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba Ontario Employers have many demands regarding the current compensation system in Ontario. The main issues appear to be economically driven, for example, encouraging the Board to reduce employer premium assessment rates. Employers also target entitlement issues, and more recently, early and safe return to work issues as well. The strategy used by employers in seeking their demands is apparent both directly and indirectly. Employer representatives meet with the WSIB (WCB) and Provincial Government on a regular basis to discuss and promote their issues. Another strategy is reflected in the rising number of employers who challenge and contest entitlement or related decisions in a worker's claim. As a counter-attack, the Ontario Network of Injured Worker Groups continues to meet Page 8 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance at bi-annual stakeholder meetings with the WSIB, where employer stakeholders are also present. ONIWG also meets with the management of the WSIB to promote the interests of the injured worker community. ONIWG continues to lobby both the WSIB and the Provincial Government in its efforts to achieve a fair and just system for all injured workers in Ontario. Lobbying comes in many forms, ranging from public demonstrations, letter-writing campaigns, petitions, and bringing forth awareness to the issues affecting injured workers. The demonstration of June 1st, 2001 regarding the Government's proposed Mega-Tribunal is a great example of how effective injured workers are when united and working together to achieve a common goal. As a result of the demonstration, the Provincial Government pulled back on the issue. Quebec LES EMPLOYEURS ATTAQUENT! Des paroles dures… cependant, de l‟avis de travailleuses et de travailleurs blessés au travail, ces paroles ne sont pas assez dures. L‟indemnisation des travailleurs et travailleuses est un régime d‟assurance sans égard à la responsabilité, obligatoire et financé par le patronat, qui a été conçu pour indemniser les salariés subissant des accidents et des maladies au travail. Les principes fondamentaux de la législation sur l‟indemnisation des travailleurs et travailleuses ont été établis par la commission royale Meredith en 1913. Ces principes, qui ont été intégrés à toutes les législations provinciales d‟indemnisation des travailleurs et travailleuses, ont été mal compris, déformés et dénaturés de façon éhontée au profit des employeurs. Voici quelques exemples de pareille manipulation d‟un régime qui a été créé pour profiter tant au salariat qu‟au patronat. Garantie de paiement : Plusieurs employeurs au pays s‟efforcent pour que les réclamations ne soient pas acceptées. Souvent, ils font cela en essayant de prouver qu‟une quelconque condition préexistante est en cause. Si vous êtes actif ou active dans les sports, dans les loisirs ou dans les travaux à la maison, l‟employeur essaiera souvent de lier la lésion à ces activités plutôt qu‟aux tâches professionnelles. Il est courant que les demandes d‟indemnisation soient refusées ou retardées parce que le travailleur ou la travailleuse est considéré-e coupable jusqu‟à ce que cette personne prouve son innocence. Mais surtout, plusieurs employeurs exercent des pressions intenses pour que le « bénéfice du doute » ne soit pas accordé à l‟employé-e. Régime d‟indemnisation sans égard à la responsabilité : Dans le cadre de ce compromis historique, le salariat a cédé son droit de poursuivre le patronat en justice en échange d‟une juste indemnisation. Ce régime sans égard à la responsabilité n‟est plus stable ni une option pour plusieurs salariés. L‟érosion des droits des travailleurs et travailleuses, notamment le droit à une indemnisation équitable, peut être liée directement aux requêtes de plusieurs employeurs d‟avoir moins de responsabilités qui leur soient imposées et aux efforts d‟employeurs de priver les salariés de leurs droits financiers et moraux. Responsabilité collective financée par l‟employeur : « Les torts du passé et du présent » font que beaucoup d‟employeurs se battent de toute leurs forces parce qu‟ils ne veulent pas de fonds de responsabilité collective. Ils veulent payer seulement pour leurs propres coûts. Administration par un organisme indépendant : Nombre d‟employeurs désirent des enquêteurs indépendants et estiment que cette responsabilité devrait échoir au patronat parce que les employeurs ne font pas confiance à la Commission. Ainsi, l‟attaque de l‟employeur est dirigée à l‟employé-e afin que l‟employeur ne soit pas responsable. Les victimes d‟accidents et de maladies du travail ne peuvent pas poursuivre leur employeur : Cette pratique était censée profiter aux employeurs comme aux employés afin d‟éviter des années de litige devant les tribunaux ainsi que les coûts afférents. De nos jours, céder « le droit de poursuivre en justice » par l‟employé-e n‟est pas considéré être dans le meilleur intérêt du travailleur ou de la travailleuse. Page 9 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance L‟attaque de l‟employeur est réelle et elle est considérée comme dévastatrice pour le bon fonctionnement de notre société. L‟attaque du patronat bafoue le régime d‟indemnisation sans égard à la responsabilité qui a été institué pour aider et protéger employeurs et salariés. Aujourd‟hui, les travailleurs et travailleuses d‟un bout à l‟autre du pays s‟opposeraient certainement à l‟abandon du droit de poursuivre en justice si un autre régime d‟indemnisation devait être envisagé! Newfoundland The 2000 Annual Report from Workplace Health, Safety & Compensation presented to Government, documents for that year, Long-term disability caseload -2,561, Short-term claims - 6,541, Health Care Only Claims - 6,306 and Accepted Fatality Claims -38. Conclusive proof that our workers are under attack… and with Governments consent! Employers demand that assessment rates be lowered, that it is a disincentive because of the "high cost of doing business here". They compare this province with other provinces that have lower premiums & lesser claims. They insist that Case Managers at the Commission are not trying rigorously to "reduce and eliminate the financial liability to the Employer". Blame is cast on the workers; they are not co-operating with their recovery or they are not trying hard enough to get better. The worker is at fault for even having an accident and the burden on employers is the workers' fault. They want lesser claims accepted and want the workers rights taken away. They plead ignorance to Occupational Health & Safety procedures and Legislation. Justice and fairness is not an option if you can't go back to work 100%. Once damaged, workers are no longer valued by their own employer, who would prefer to send injured workers elsewhere to look for work. They expect & demand more investigation and surveillance of the worker and not of the accident. It is not about prevention of an accident but covering it up. The Injured Workers Movement is a volunteer, unfunded effort and we lobby Government and Workers compensation to recognize that this employer strategy of attack is destroying lives, families and society. The bottom line: profits are their priority! Labrador New Brunswick Nova Scotia Page 10 �Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Our Goals CIWA/ACVAMT Is about  To work towards a just SUPPORT We are a national network of injured worker's groups (IWG's) and we exist to strengthen and support the work of local and provincial IWG's across Canada.  INDEPENDENCE We believe that injured workers should be in control of their own destinies & Injured Workers Groups must be democratically controlled by injured workers.   PARTNERSHIPS We believe that we can best assist these objectives by providing training and educational resources in partnership with provincial or territorial organizations of injured workers and the trade union movement at all levels.  INFORMATION SHARING We believe that by sharing our stories and our experience we can learn from each other and become better educated and exert more control over our lives.   system of compensation, rehabilitation and reemployment in all of Canada. To provide a national forum for debating issues concerning injured workers at national conferences and board workshops. To gather and share information with groups across Canada. To improve the Occupational Health & Safety of workers across Canada. To identify and make available, educational and training resources produced by the union movement and other agencies, that focus on organizing and maintaining effective injured worker groups. To enhance the local base of the injured workers movement through all our activities. To form partnerships that will achieve common goals. Publications Available         The VOICE OF INJURED WORKER PLAIN TALK HOW TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN INJURED WORKERS & ORGANIZED LABOUR REPORT ON RELATIONS WITH LABOUR SESSION AT CIWA NATIONAL CONFERENCE, REGINA 1992 RETURNING TO WORK VOC REHAB & RE-EMPLOYMENT FROM THE INJURED WORKER'S PERSPECTIVE INJURED WORKERS … ON THE MOVE COMING TOGETHER VIDEOS & WORKBOOKS  SURVIVORS, 1997  TOGETHER WE CAN WIN, 1997  PEER HELPER TRAINING MANUAL, 2000 - "PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE"  LE COMBAT QUOTIDIEN DES VICTIMES DU TRAVAIL, 1999 To find out more, please contact us at: CIWA/ACVAMT P.O. Box 10098 Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6T6 Ph: 807-345-3429 Fx: 807-344-8683 Toll Free: 1-877-787-7010 Web Site: www.ciwa.ca Connect with an injured workers group near you. Check out our web site at: www.ciwa.ca and click on "Who to Contact"  OR  Call our office at (807) 345-3429 or Toll Free at 1-877-787-7010 This Newsletter is intended to share information of interest to injured workers, union activists and their supporters. It provides a forum for sharing our experiences - so we can learn from each other - in order to improve the lives of injured and disabled workers and the system that is there to assist them. Please help - by sharing your story with us. Printed by CUPE 87 / Imprimé par le SCFP 87 Page 11 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Canadian Injured Workers Alliance Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CIWA Highlights Newsletter Spring 2002 Description An account of the resource Articles about CIWA/ACVAMT Youth Project with workshop on Workplace Health and Safety to youth; "What's a good job?- The Importance of Employment Relationships"; "Employer's Attack" -Workers' Compensation across the provinces. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource CIWA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2002 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Subject The topic of the resource Labour and Labour Unions