Overwaitea leaves Changes Members in the cold
Union members working for Changes, the recycling depot in many Save-On stores, felt the bitter cold this past winter season because management failed to address heating problems within the outlets.
Changes members filed several complaints about the cold drafts, which were the result of faulty air ducts and diffusers. After the union became involved, the company provided portable heaters, which were a temporary band-aid to a much bigger problem. Due to the heavy drafts of cold air, the portable heaters did little in the way of providing appropriate warmth for the members.
The union revisited the issue with the company, which led to the involvement of WorkSafe BC. Finally, after months of struggling with the company, Overwaitea senior management reluctantly agreed to relocate the diffusers, which will prevent the cold draft from coming in directly where members are working.
“This is not the first we’ve seen of Overwaitea not taking the working conditions of the members seriously,” says UFCW 1518 President Ivan Limpright. “In Coopers locations throughout the province, members have been feeling the bitter cold for months due to Overwaitea Head Office refusing to take action on providing a work environment with an appropriate temperature.”
“This is not something that anyone should have to put up with. Our members deserve to work in a safe environment, and that means the employer must provide the heating that meets the standards set out by WorkSafe BC,” says Limpright. “Working in excessively cold temperatures, apart from being very uncomfortable, also leads to increased risk of injury, and the employer has an obligation to deal with these issues.”
If you have any other health and safety concerns in your workplace, please contact your worker co-chairs of your Health & Safety Committee or your Union Representative so your concerns can be addressed.
