工會是如何幫助工人 2

工會是如何幫助工人─第二部分

正如上周指出，很多移民讚揚加拿大偉大的社會政策的公平和平等。從享有免費醫療到產假福利，以致公費敎育，人們生活在這樣偉大的國家都心存感激。很多人不知道，我們享有這些福利，是以前的工人和工會艱苦奮鬥贏得的勝利。這一系列短文將會重點介紹一些被歷史遺忘的社會政策是如何在加拿大存在──不是任何加拿大政府的善意，是經過以前的工人奮鬥而來。

有薪產假

1981年，加拿大郵務工人工會(CUPW)了解婦女工人因生育和撫養孩子承受顯著工資損失的不公平，因此，工會在集體談判時為自己的會員要求產假。經過45天的罷工，加拿大郵務工人工會成為第一個全國性工會贏得有薪產假──其他工會紛紛作出同樣的要求。這為加拿大工人，不論是否工會會員，鋪平了要有妊娠和育兒假權利的道路。

健康與安全標準

二戰後，建造業主要工人是移民，他們在危險和缺乏安全規管的工作場所工作。1960年3月，在沒有安全設備下，5名年輕意大利裔工人於10呎地下水管工作死亡後，工會收集一些重要的工業安全問題。邀進勞工運動導致成立皇家健康和安全委員會和最終立法保護工人。20世紀80年代末期，工會的努力導致有權拒絕不安全工作，和敎育工人有關僱用慣例的計劃。結果是改變了安省的健康與安全條例──這樣的變化今天仍在保護工人的生命！

工会是如何帮助工人─第二部分

正如上周指出，很多移民赞扬加拿大伟大的社会政策的公平和平等。从享有免费医疗到产假福利，以致公费敎育，人们生活在这样伟大的国家都心存感激。很多人不知道，我们享有这些福利，是以前的工人和工会艰苦奋斗赢得的胜利。这一系列短文将会重点介绍一些被历史遗忘的社会政策是如何在加拿大存在──不是任何加拿大政府的善意，是经过以前的工人奋斗而来。

有薪产假

1981年，加拿大邮务工人工会(CUPW)了解妇女工人因生育和抚养孩子承受显著工资损失的不公平，因此，工会在集体谈判时为自己的会员要求产假。经过45天的罢工，加拿大邮务工人工会成为第一个全国性工会赢得有薪产假──其他工会纷纷作出同样的要求。这为加拿大工人，不论是否工会会员，铺平了要有妊娠和育儿假权利的道路。

健康与安全标准

二战后，建造业主要工人是移民，他们在危险和缺乏安全规管的工作场所工作。 1960年3月，在没有安全设备下，5名年轻意大利裔工人于10呎地下水管工作死亡后，工会收集一些重要的工业安全问题。邀进劳工运动导致成立皇家健康和安全委员会和最终立法保护工人。 20世纪80年代末期，工会的努力导致有权拒绝不安全工作，和敎育工人有关雇用惯例的计划。结果是改变了安省的健康与安全条例──这样的变化今天仍在保护工人的生命！

How Unions Have Helped All Workers – Part 2

As noted last week, many immigrants praise Canada for its great social policies of equality and fairness. Everything from free healthcare to maternity benefits to publicly funded education, people are thankful to live in such a great country. What many don’t know is that these freedoms that we enjoy are victories hard fought and won by workers and unions before us. This series of short articles will highlight some of the forgotten history of how our social policies in Canada came to exist – not because of the benevolence of any Canadian government, but through the struggle of working peoples before us.

Paid Maternity Leave

It was only in the recent past that women won the right to paid maternity leaves. In 1981, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) recognized the injustice suffered by female workers who lose significant pay to give birth and raise children, so the union demanded maternity leave for their own members in collective bargaining. After a 45-day strike, CUPW became the first national union to win paid maternity leave —and started an avalanche of other unions making the same demand. This paved the way for all Canadian workers, regardless of union membership, to have the right to pregnancy and parental leave.

Health & Safety Standards

After the post-war era, the construction industry was mainly composed of immigrant workers who were exposed to danger and lack of safety regulations in the workplace. Following the deaths of 5 young Italian workers in March 1960, who were working on a water main 10 feet underground without any safety equipment, labour unions organized around important industry safety issues. The activism of the labour movement led to a Royal Commission on health and safety, and ultimately new legislation to protect workers. In the late 1980’s union efforts led to the right to refuse unsafe work, and a programme to educate all workers about employment practices. This resulted in changes to Ontario’s health and safety laws – changes that continue to protect the lives of workers today!