News and media

(Unceded Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam territories — Vancouver, BC) The Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB)'s decision to presume COVID-19-related claims are workplace-related is a welcome step, the BC Federation of Labour said today. "It's good news that the Workers' Compensation Board has moved on this," BCFED president Laird Cronk said. "We're cautiously optimistic that this will mean

(Coast Salish Territory, Vancouver, BC) Today, the BC NDP government announced changes to the Workers Compensation Act arising from three expert reviews conducted in 2018 and 2019 by Lisa Jean Helps, Paul Petrie and Terry Bogyo. The Helps report responded to the two tragic mill explosions in Northern BC. Petrie’s report examined WCB compensation policy, and Bogyo made recommendations on the

(Unceded Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam territories — Vancouver, BC) — With workplace COVID-19 outbreaks fresh in the minds of political leaders and the public alike, the BCFED has released a plan to ensure paid sick leave for every worker in British Columbia. “No worker should have to choose between staying home when they’re sick and paying the bills. And with our plan, no worker will have

(Unceded Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam territories — Vancouver, BC) — With employers gaining a newly-extended temporary layoff period, the province must now ensure those laid-off workers have the right to return to their jobs when the layoff ends, BC Federation of Labour president Laird Cronk said today. “This economic recovery can’t be at the cost of workers,” he said. “We believe there

The BCFED released the following statement today from president Laird Cronk and secretary-treasurer Sussanne Skidmore: The tragic news that a BC Ferries maintenance worker died on the job on Friday, and a CN Rail conductor was killed while working on Monday, brings the toll to five workplace deaths in the province in just the first half of the month. That’s five workers who left for work healthy

(Coast Salish Territory, Vancouver BC) British Columbians support stronger workplace health and safety protection and Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) coverage for workers who contract COVID-19 by a wide margin, according to a survey conducted by polling firm Stratcom for the BC Federation of Labour. Asked if the WCB should provide coverage for workers infected with the virus on the job, four out