As the Nova Scotia bubble re-opens, it is time for the provincial government to ensure that all workers receive paid time off to receive their vaccines, says Nova Scotia Federation of Labour President Danny Cavanagh.
“The last thing we need will be to start and shut things down again and the best way to ensure public safety would be to ensure all workers get paid time off to be given to vaccination. They are doing it in Saskatchewan, and workers could get the same benefits here.
“This move would show the government is committed to occupational health and safety and the importance of workers being safe in their workplaces. Having paid time off to get vaccinated for workers would be a good move because workers shouldn’t have to choose to either take unpaid time off work or receive a life-saving vaccination,” says Cavanagh.
A government’s decision to provide paid time off for workers to get vaccinated will make workplaces safer in the long run and will help prevent more outbreaks or another shut down as things open up. Far too many front-line workers continue to put themselves at risk of contracting COVID-19 when they go to work, and too many workers continue to go to work sick because they can’t afford to miss their shift.
Danny Cavanagh (He/Him)
President, Nova Scotia Federation of Labour
