IFPTE's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Economic Crisis

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NOTE: COVID-19 INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE FOR THE WORKPLACE CAN BE FOUND HERE

Throughout North America, thousands of IFPTE members work in occupations that put them at the front lines of responding to the diagnosis, care, and containment of COVID-19. Most other IFPTE members work in occupational settings that require frequent contact with coworkers or the public. As we take precautions to "flatten the curve," we anticipate the social and economic effects of COVID-19 will touch all of us. In order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and safeguard the health and economic well-being of IFPTE members, their families and communities, and all working people, a coordinated, science- and evidence-based, and well-resourced response from national and local public health agencies is critically important. Therefore, IFPTE is advocating for resources and regulations to protect workers in their essential workplaces, to ensure economic security for working people and families in the still unfolding economic crisis, expanded worker protections and policies to allow workers to stay home when sick and receive necessary care, and other appropriate measures to protect our members and all working people and their livelihoods.

AFL-CIO and Canadian Labour Congress Resources on COVID-19

Workers Rights to a Safe Workplace

Under Canadian and U.S. law all employers have a "general duty" to provide a safe workplace for their employees. This includes existing standards for workers rights and employer responsibility that protect workers from retaliation for raising concerns about workplace health and safety.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS): OH&S Legislation in Canada - Three Rights of Workers

Unemployment, Health Care, Sick Leave, Family Leave, and Student Debt

For U.S. Federal Employees - Guidance on COVID-19

For Essential and Critical Service Employees, and Defense Industrial Base Employees - Guidance on CONVID-19

General Workplace Settings - Health and Safety Information

  • U.S. NIH: NIH Study Validates Decontamination Methods For Re-Use of N95 Respirators - Issued April 15, 2020. Note: decontamination of single-use disposable respirators is a crisis-capacity measure and limited to reuse of up to three times after vaporized hydrogen peroxide treatment decontamination procedures. This is not a standard practice and not a substitute for adequate supply of respirators.

Healthcare and Frontline Settings - Health and Safety Information

Factsheets, Posters, and General Information

State and Provincial Public Health Resources and Response to COVID-19

In the U.S. and Canada, state and provincial governments have been at the forefront of the response to COVID-19 outbreaks and containment in local settings.

Labor Unions Countering Xenophobia, Racism, and Sexism During COVID-19

IFPTE joins with unions, public health agencies, and working people throughout Canada, the U.S., and the rest of the world in urging the public to reject any stigmatization, scapegoating, racism, or xenophobia towards any Asian populations and communities in the midst of the pandemic. Further, we join with people throughout our communities as we confront the systemic racism and sexism as issues central to the lives of working people.

 

 

IFPTE COVID-19 Related News