by: elizabeth payne
more than 40 employees of the ottawa hospital have been placed on leave without pay for failing to declare their covid-19 vaccination status.
they are among the first group of workers who could potentially be placed on unpaid leave under the hospital’s new mandatory vaccination policy.
they have, essentially, failed to engage with the process that requires employees to divulge their vaccination status and, if unvaccinated, to undergo regular testing and education sessions initially. by nov. 1, all hospital employees who are still not vaccinated would be asked to agree to voluntary leave of absence until they are vaccinated.
the 42 employees are members of the canadian union of public employees local 4000. the vast majority of them are casual workers who were hired for the summer and are not planning to work there in the immediate future, said local president lou burri, which likely explains why they did not declare their vaccination status or engage with the process. but seven of them are permanent employees who are now on unpaid leave.
in addition, 200 members of cupe local 4000, which represents workers in the trades, clerical workers, registered practical nurses and orderlies at the hospital, have declared that they are not fully vaccinated. that includes full-time, part-time and casual workers.