“This is a good first step by the government on this front; one that workers and their unions, as well as the medical community, have been requesting for some time,” said NLFL President Jessica McCormick. “This change will reduce stress on our healthcare system, free up healthcare workers to focus on providing care, improve access to healthcare, and allow workers to concentrate on getting healthy before returning to work.”

“However, the full impact of this change will depend on individual employers, who will still have the ability to set their own sick note policies, even for short-term illnesses,” said McCormick. “Employers should absolutely follow the precedent set by this change – for our healthcare system and for workers – but they are not required to do so.”

A recently released report by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) estimated that as many as 12.5 million unnecessary healthcare appointments could be eliminated annually by removing the requirement for sick notes for minor, short-term illnesses.

“Workers and their families need this government to implement further labour legislation changes to improve their working and living conditions,” said McCormick. “We are hopeful that this change signals that this government is listening to workers and is ready to prioritize their needs. We will continue to pressure the government to ensure this happens.”

Recently, the NLFL called on the provincial government to increase the Income Replacement Rate for injured workers. Additionally, the NLFL is urging the government to introduce legislation during this session to ensure workers have access to ten (10) paid sick days.

“Sick notes are just one part of the overall picture,” said McCormick. “Workers should not feel pressured to come to work while sick for fear of losing their jobs. If the goal is to reduce the financial strain on workers and mitigate the spread of infectious diseases, as the Minister states in her release, then we also need to enact increased access to paid sick days and better compensation for injured workers.”

The post Removing Sick Note Requirement for Workers a Positive Step appeared first on Newfoundland & Labrador Federation of Labour.

The average assessment rate paid by employers in Newfoundland and Labrador will remain at $1.73 per $100 of assessment earnings for 2025, which includes a $0.21 discount.

“While employers will see a seventh year of discounts on assessment rates, workers who experience injury or illness, who are struggling under high costs of living, have not seen an increase to the income replacement rate since 2018,” said Jessica McCormick, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour.

In 1993, the Income Replacement Rate for workers was reduced from 90% of net earnings to 75%. Since then, the IRR has seen gradual increases, rising to 80% in 1998 and 85% in 2018. In 2019, a Statutory Review of Workers’ Compensation recommended to the provincial government that the IRR be increased to 90% commencing in January 2022 and that no further rebates or discounts be provided to employers subsequent to 2021 until such time as an IRR of 90% is achieved. The provincial government has taken no action to increase the IRR since the recommendation was made.

The Workers’ Compensation system is designed to operate on a no-fault basis, ensuring workers receive compensation for workplace injuries or illnesses without the burden of legal fees or lengthy court battles. In exchange for this system, workers gave up the right to sue their employer for injuries or illnesses. This historic compromise was established to protect workers’ rights, and injured workers must receive the benefits they are entitled to in their claims.

“WorkplaceNL’s injury fund maintains a healthy position. Despite this positive outlook, and counter to Statutory Review recommendations, the income replacement rate for workers remains stagnant,” continued McCormick. “Increases to the Income Replacement Rate are long overdue. It is time for the provincial government to address this key recommendation and stop denying injured workers the dignity and economic security they deserve.”

The post Federation of Labour Calls for Increase to Income Replacement Rate for Injured Workers appeared first on Newfoundland & Labrador Federation of Labour.

In 2023, 15 workers in this province died because of workplace illness or injury. That’s 15 families left to mourn and wonder how this could happen?

On the Day of Mourning, the labour movement remembers the workers we’ve lost and we commit to fight harder than ever for strong and enforceable laws, safe and healthy workplaces and to make sure that employers and law makers are held to account no matter what.

Because one workplace death is one too many.

Day of Mourning events in Newfoundland and Labrador will be held in the following locations:

St. John’s & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
Sunday, April 28, 2024, 12:00PM
Confederation Building, 100 Prince Philip Drive, St. John’s

Corner Brook & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
Sunday, April 28, 2024, 2:00PM
Holy Redeemer Cathedral, 15 Mt. Bernard Ave, Corner Brook
Will be also live-streamed by Fillatre’s Funeral Home, https://fillatre.ca/

Labrador West & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
Sunday, April 28, 2024, 2:00PM
5795 USW Union Hall, 105 Hudson Dr, Labrador City

Grand Falls-Windsor Day of Mourning Committee
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
Sunday, April 28, 2024, 12:00PM
Grand Falls Windsor Injured Workers Memorial, Lincoln Road

The post Newfoundland & Labrador Day of Mourning 2024 appeared first on Newfoundland & Labrador Federation of Labour.