The UNE 2018 Occupational Health and Safety Conference was a huge success!
Delegates from coast to coast to coast gathered in the National Capital Region (NCR) from October 25-28 to learn about and discuss current health and safety issues. They had the opportunity to listen to insightful presentations by health and safety experts and had the chance to exchange and share their experiences by attending workshops and asking questions during the plenary sessions.
Mental health was at the heart of the Conference. Whether it was about awareness, psychosocial hazards, barriers, workplace programs, members of our Union family learned tools and strategies to tackle this issue, individually and as a Union team. Emotional exhaustion and burnout may still be taboo in some workplaces, but workers are becoming more vocal about it. Mental health is as important as physical health and employers, working in partnership with union representatives, ought to have mental health policies and support programs in place. The new legislation amending the Canada Labour Code (CLC) to address harassment and violence for federally regulated workers, also known as Bill C-65, was extensively discussed during the plenary sessions as well.
Mental Health and Wellness, Stress Management and New Member Integration Strategies, Knowing Your Rights and Responsibilities: The Canada Labour Code were some the topics of the workshops that took place on the second day of the Conference. Delegates also had the chance to attend a couple of mindful meditations sessions offered by UNE Regional Vice-President for Manitoba, Christopher Little-Gagné.
UNE National President Kevin King, who received the service award for long-term officers of the PSAC for 25 years of PSAC activism addressed the delegates and PSAC National President Chris Aylward delivered an inspiring speech reminding the audience of the importance of addressing mental health in the workplace.