UCP FAILS TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, PUTS PUBLIC WORKERS AT RISK

EDMONTON – Jason Kenney and the UCP government are putting thousands of public workers at risk by failing to implement a work-from-home plan, said Alberta NDP Labour Critic Christina Gray.

On March 17, after the province declared a public state of emergency, Executive Council Deputy Minister Ray Gilmour sent a message to all public sector staff to “be prepared to start to work from home where operationally feasible”.

But as of Monday, it is not clear that any plan or direction has been communicated to thousands of non-essential public servants.

“The direction from the Chief Medical Officer of Health is clear — if you can stay home, you must do so,” Gray said. “While many employers are leagues ahead in directing their staff, the Government of Alberta is behind and it’s putting people at risk. Jason Kenney needs to ensure a plan is in place immediately.”

Workers have reached out to the Official Opposition and said there is still no word on when work-from-home policies will be in place; they are being told to use vacation time or come in to work during this outbreak. 

This is in stark contrast to the Government of Saskatchewan, where a phased-in work-from-home plan begins Monday, and thousands of non-essential civil servants and Crown corporation employees were given clear direction to be out of the office and working from home as the number of confirmed cases grows.