The pandemic has ravaged the economy, and a recovery will be protracted, taking place in stages for the foreseeable future. This crisis has also exposed gaps in workplace policies, and legislation but also, the significance of certain sectors of the economy, which have either been chronically underfunded, or have received very little support from the government. At the same time, the Canadian economy is experiencing a significant deficit, which is usually financed
through privatization, cutting back on public services and adjusting taxation policies that shift the burden on the middle and working class.
It’s also clear that the world of work will change, too. Workplace protocols, policies, health and safety will all be impacted, and while it’s important to modify such policies to protect workers, the trend seems to indicate that infringements of individual rights and freedoms, as well as of collective agreements, are likely. This calls for a balanced approach to protecting the rights of workers collectively and individually, with the need to develop policies for the protection of the workplace as a whole, including clients, residents and patients, where applicable.
As a result of these new developments, the IAMAW Canada has developed a guide for post-COVID workplaces, and in pursuit of continuing to advocate for the Jobs worth Fighting for agenda. The content is broken into health and safety recommendations, collective agreement priorities, the economy, taxation policy, women’s and human rights issues.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, given quickly changing environments, rather a guide to define the IAMAW’S position on the post-pandemic recovery.