March 9, 2022

More B.C. Public Servants Speak Out Ahead of Injunction Hearing

VICTORIA – More B.C. public servants facing termination due to the province’s proof of COVID-19 vaccination mandate are sharing their stories ahead of a court hearing to stop the firings.

WATCH *NEW Testimonials* – BC Public Service Employees Speak Out:

• Florence – Public Safety and Solicitor General

• D. (name withheld) – Social Development and Poverty Reduction

• Louisa – Agriculture, Food and Fisheries

The petition for court injunction and judicial review, the first part of which is scheduled to be heard in B.C. Supreme Court on March 21, argues that the government order authorizing the proof of vaccination mandate is unconstitutional and should be quashed. Nine non-union B.C. public servants have joined the petition to date, with more expected to join in the coming days from a larger group of over 500 union and non-union BC Public Service employees. Arguments for the constitutional case are expected to be heard at a 2-day hearing in May.

BCPS Employees for Freedom, a group formed in October last year in response to the mandate, supports the court action and in recent weeks has released video testimonials of employees affected by the mandate. The latest round features:

• Florence, a mother and B.C. Corrections Officer from the Lower Mainland who has had her mental health, family and career prospects negatively impacted by the mandate and is on leave without pay;
• D. (name withheld), an Employment & Assistance Worker from Central B.C., who opposes the mandate but is still working and got vaccinated unwillingly to keep her home and support her family; and
• Louisa, a 24-year BC Public Service employee, wife, mother and aortic dissection survivor from Oliver who is remaining strong in spite of facing imminent termination as her family’s sole income earner.

“These stories provide a window into the lives of tens of thousands of public sector workers across the province who have been impacted by this mandate,” said the group’s spokesperson. “B.C. now appears to be the only province in Canada intent on terminating public servants for not proving their COVID-19 vaccination status. It’s time to end the mandate and allow dedicated B.C. public servants to go back to work.”

BCPS Employees for Freedom says the union representing most B.C. public servants, the B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), has failed to stand up for workers, but hopes they will soon change their position.

“The BCGEU so far has not represented workers facing termination because of this mandate, but with attitudes toward COVID policy shifting across the country, most jurisdictions abandoning mandates and restrictions, and even health officials in this province advocating for the end of harmful policies, like what Vancouver Coastal Health wrote to UBC a few weeks ago, we hope the union leadership will have a change of heart and decide to fight for their members.”

On February 16, 2022, the Chief Medical Health Officer and Vice-President of Public Health for Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Dr. Patricia Daly, wrote to Dr. Santa Ono, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia, to recommend that the university abandon its plan to de-register students for not proving their COVID-19 vaccination status. Daly noted that such a measure, if pursued, “may result in profound negative harms on [students’] future health and wellbeing, by impacting future educational and career opportunities, and their mental health.”

On February 28, 2022, the UBC Board of Governors announced it would no longer require rapid testing or vaccine declarations, except as required by Public Health.

BC Public Service Employee Personal Stories

B.C. public servants from a wide range of professional backgrounds and government ministries have agreed to speak with BCPS Employees for Freedom Media on camera or have their audio testimony recorded. Their stories have been made into video clips for the public. Only employees’ first names or initials are used, and all testimonies have been prepared in accordance with the BC Public Service Oath of Employment and Standards of Conduct.

Florence – Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Florence has been a B.C. public servant for 4 years, working as a correctional officer for the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General in the Lower Mainland. During her time with the BC Public Service and the B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), Florence feels she has made a difference in the lives of the people she works with. She also got along well with her co-workers and felt respected by management. However, since the mandate was introduced, her experience has changed. “I feel like I’m being treated like a second-class citizen.” Her mental health has been negatively impacted and she has felt forced to consider an unexpected career shift. “I would like everybody to know I am healthy, I am eager to work, ready to work.” Florence, a mother of young children, has been put on unpaid leave for three months and expects to be terminated at any moment.

D. – Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction

D. (name withheld) has been with BC Public Service for 7 years and lives in Central B.C. In her role with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, she helps B.C.’s most vulnerable citizens access income assistance. When the mandate came in, she experienced confusion and anxiety. “I just knew in my heart this wasn’t right for me”. It wasn’t easy for D. to make the decision she felt forced to make. “I went and got my vaccines for one reason and one reason only and that was to keep my job, to keep my family in our home”. She continues working in her role today.

Louisa – Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries

Louisa lives in Oliver, B.C., and has been with the BC Public Service for 24 years, working for the last 11 with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. When the pandemic first hit, Louisa was asked by her management to find a way to keep their largely paper-based office functioning while her colleagues worked from home. She continued to work in the office throughout the pandemic. When the mandate came, Louisa, an aortic dissection survivor, knew a treatment that could possibly affect her heart would be a problem. “I don’t sleep very well. I get panic attacks where I can’t breathe.” Despite this difficult time in her life, Louisa has to be strong for her family. A devoted mother and wife, Louisa is on unpaid leave and expects termination at any moment.

Learn More:

BCPS Employees for Freedom is a non-partisan public service employee group seeking an amicable solution on behalf of its members with their employer. The group is a growing association of more than 500 B.C. public servants from a wide range of professional backgrounds and disciplines, and includes both management and regular employees. Collectively, we have many hundreds, if not thousands, of years of faithful public service behind us, and we look forward to performing many more. We are trying to follow the right process to resolve our current employment situation by writing and communicating with our employer, public officials and the public, and undertaking legal action only as a last resort.

BCPS Employees for Freedom Media

Website: bcpsforfreedom.com

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The post More B.C. Public Servants Speak Out Ahead of Injunction Hearing appeared first on BCPS Employees for Freedom Society.

March 1, 2022

Update on Court Petition to Stop Vaccine Mandate Terminations and New Employee Testimonials

VICTORIA – More B.C. public servants are joining a court petition filed last week to stop their employer from terminating them over its proof of COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

Five more non-union BC Public Service employees have joined the original four petitioners seeking an injunction from B.C. Supreme court to stop the firings. The filing last week resulted in a two-week pause to terminations for a number of employees who were expecting dismissal starting February 22.

BC Public Service Employees for Freedom, a group formed late last year in response to the Public Service vaccine mandate policy, welcomed the employees’ move to join the court petition.

“More of our colleagues are recognizing the need to stand behind this petition and our efforts to end the unnecessary, unjust and unethical vaccine mandate and terminations,” said the group’s spokesperson.

“Most of the general public doesn’t know that the BC Public Service is trying terminate us with cause and deny us severance pay and Employment Insurance. We are being punished for not revealing our personal, private medical information or not submitting to pressure to take vaccines that don’t stop viral transmission or infection. We have members who have more than 25 years of service and are experts in their fields. This kind of treatment is beneath the dignity of the professional public service.”

On November 19, 2021, the B.C.’s Lieutenant Governor, Janet Austen, signed into law Order in Council 627/2021 amending the Public Service Act to make the new proof of COVID-19 vaccination policy a term and condition of employment. Any employee terminated under the policy is “deemed to have been dismissed for just cause.” The order was passed without parliamentary hearing or debate in the B.C. legislature and one business day before employees who had not proven their vaccination status were to be placed on unpaid leave.

Most other Canadian provinces are moving on from their proof of vaccination mandates for the general public and government workers. Starting today in Ontario, vaccine certificates will no longer be mandatory in indoor public settings.

No Response from the Employer or Support from the Union

BCPS Employees for Freedom, which has grown to nearly 500 registered members in recent weeks and includes both union and non-union staff, as well as management employees, has received no response to letters sent to the Head of the BC Public Service, Lori Wanamaker, who announced the proof of vaccination mandate in October. Members of the group represented by the B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) have faced a similar lack of response to their appeals for help.

“The BCGEU has completely abandoned us,” said one union member of the group, a BC Corrections Officer based in the south-central interior. “They’ve sided with the NDP government on this vaccine mandate and think it’s OK to fire us with cause and deny us severance. If the union isn’t fighting for us, what’s the point of having a union? We’re hoping this process with the court petition helps where our union has failed us.”

*NEW Testimonials* – More B.C. Public Servants Speak Out

BC Public Service Employees for Freedom has released three new videos of B.C. public servants speaking out about the vaccine mandate and their looming terminations.

“We have many colleagues coming forward now to share their personal stories of public service. We believe the B.C. public deserves to know how the indiscriminate and arbitrary firing of professional public servants is affecting our province. We are your colleagues, neighbours, friends and family.”

Kasey – Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Kasey has worked for the BC Public Service for a year and a half. In her role as a Probation Officer with the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Kasey has helped clients while on bail, making sure they were meeting their conditions and receiving support in the community. She is passionate about her job. “It made me feel like I had a purpose and a reason, and I was helping people”. After having worked through the pandemic, she feels it’s a shame to let employees go because of their personal choice to not share their private medical information. “I think it’s a step backwards for inclusivity”. Kasey has been on leave without pay for three months and is expecting termination.

Cheryl – Ministry of Citizens’ Services

Cheryl has worked with the Ministry of Citizen’s Services for 8 years. As the only person performing her role in her office, she knows being placed on unpaid leave has had a big impact. “I’ve always been health-minded and always looked at alternative things and never would… had I ever thought that this would be a requirement”. Her husband, also a public servant, felt forced to follow the mandate so they could survive. Cheryl has been on unpaid leave for three months and expects to be terminated at any moment.

Diana – BC Wildfire Service

Diana has been with BC Public Service for over 27 years, and for the last 18 has worked for the BC Wildfire Service in Penticton. In her role as Operations Assistant, Diana prepares the zone for the upcoming fire season, including hiring heavy equipment and making sure the necessary fire crews are in place and ready. She plays an integral role working side-by-side with the Zone Wildfire Coordination Officer during intense wildfire fighting operations. She thinks the mandate will have a significant impact on B.C.’s ability to fight wildfires because of the number of contractors who choose to be vaccine-free. “What BC Wildfire Service employees do for the public is above and beyond. I can’t even describe everything that they do.” Diana has been put on unpaid leave for three months, coinciding with the beginning of fire season, and has been told she will be terminated without severance after her leave ends.

Learn More:

BCPS Employees for Freedom is a non-partisan public service employee group seeking an amicable solution on behalf of its members with their employer. The group is a growing association of nearly 500 B.C. public servants from a wide range of professional backgrounds and disciplines, and includes both management and regular employees. Collectively, we have many hundreds, if not thousands, of years of faithful public service behind us, and we look forward to performing many more. We are trying to follow the right process to resolve our current employment situation by writing and communicating with our employer, public officials and the public, and undertaking legal action only as a last resort.

For Comment on the Court Petition, contact:

Umar Sheikh and Bruce Hallsor, Q.C.

Crease Harman LLP

Barristers & Solicitors

usheikh@crease.com

hallsor@crease.com

BCPS Employees for Freedom Media

Website: bcpsforfreedom.com

Librti: BCPS for Freedom

YouTube: BCPS Employees for Freedom

Instagram: bcpublicservantsforfreedom

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Contact:

bcps4freedom.media@protonmail.com

PDF version:

The post Update on Court Petition to Stop Vaccine Mandate Terminations and New Employee Testimonials appeared first on BCPS Employees for Freedom Society.

February 18, 2022

B.C. Public Servants Facing Termination Over Vaccine Mandate Speak Out

VICTORIA – B.C. public servants facing termination due to the province’s proof of COVID-19 vaccination mandate for government workers are going public with their stories.

Michelle – Social Development and Poverty Reduction

Zoran – Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development

M. (name withheld) – Public Safety and Solicitor General

On November 1, 2021, the BC Public Service required all of its approximately 30,000 employees to prove their COVID-19 vaccination status by November 22 or be placed on leave with out pay for three months and then terminated.

The Head of the BC Public Service, Lori Wanamaker, at the time called the mandate “an important and necessary step to ensure our workplaces remain as safe as possible.”

BC Public Service Employees for Freedom, a group that advocates on behalf of employees affected by the mandate and who are concerned with its impacts to public services, has written to Wanamaker seeking an end to the policy before employees are terminated. The group represents a growing association of more than 450 active and experienced professionals with collectively many hundreds, if not thousands, of years of dutiful public service. Members hail from a wide range of professional backgrounds and disciplines, and include both management and regular employees.

“B.C. is now just one of a few provinces in Canada that will terminate public servants for not proving their COVID-19 vaccination status,” said the group’s spokesperson, on condition of anonymity. “Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba all honour their employees’ medical privacy and choice in this matter. They have determined that their employees can work safely without this requirement and we hope B.C. will allow public servants here to do the same.”

A recent report from the Institute for Research on Public Policy showed that as of February 15, only B.C., New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Yukon had vaccine mandates in place for their public servants. New Brunswick has since indicated it is reviewing its mandatory policy for government employees, and Newfoundland has said it will drop its vaccine passport by March 14.

“Today we are sharing the first personal stories of three of our brave colleagues who have agreed to come forward to tell British Columbians how this mandate is impacting services and the lives of the dedicated individuals who provide them. We look forward to sharing more stories of public servants who will be terminated in the coming days and weeks. We feel it is important that British Columbians know and understand the impact this policy is having on their province and public service.”

“Ultimately what we would like is to meet with Ms. Wanamaker and her team to find a solution that advances the interests of all concerned, including, and most importantly, the public interest.”

BC Public Service Employee Personal Stories

B.C. public servants from a wide range of professional backgrounds and government ministries have agreed to speak with BCPS Employees for Freedom Media on camera or have their audio testimony recorded. Their stories have been made into the following video clips for the public. Only employees’ first names or initials are used, and all testimonies have been prepared in accordance with the BC Public Service Oath of Employment and Standards of Conduct.

Michelle – Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction

Michelle is a 14-year BC Public Service employee living in Horsefly, B.C., near Williams Lake. Beginning her career as a correctional officer, Michelle later transitioned to working as an Employment & Assistance Worker with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. Her work has focused on health and specialized services for clients attending treatment programs at short- and long-term care facilities. “I would think that the services have been hugely impacted by the number of people that have been put on leave,” she says, speaking about the mandatory proof of vaccination policy. “We were already running quite short staffed. There [were] offers for overtime before so I can’t imagine how much more it’s impacted B.C.’s most vulnerable people.” Michelle, a three-time cancer survivor and mother, is currently on leave without pay.

Zoran – Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development

Zoran, a Registered Professional Forester and Senior Manager with the Mountain Resorts Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, currently based in Kamloops, has worked in the BC Public Service for almost 26 years. He, his wife and daughter came to Canada in 1994 seeking a new life surviving civil war and ethnic strife tore apart their native Bosnia. Zoran has been proud to serve the people of B.C. for more than a quarter century. He originally found the BC Public Service values to be close to his own personal values. Now he is concerned about a shift he has seen in how people treat each other. “I want the public not to judge people based on vaccination status and accept the decision about medical treatments that are deeply private, personal choices,” he says. “That would be my message to the public of British Columbia.” Zoran and his wife, also a B.C. public servant, are currently on leave without pay and expect to be terminated in April.

M. – Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

M. (name withheld) has been with the BC Public Service for 13 years. In her role working with the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General in Vancouver, M. supports victims of violent crime, domestic and sexual abuse survivors, those struggling with mental illness and suicidal ideation, and families who have lost loved ones. Being placed on leave without pay has had an impact on her co-workers and clients. “None of them wanted to see me go. They knew I fought hard for these victims. None of my colleagues, none of the management team wanted to see me go. For the first two months of my leave without pay, my caseload sat largely untouched. These victims waited a lot longer for help than they should have had to.” M., a mother of two, expects to be terminated from the BC Public Service on February 24, 2022.

Learn More:

BCPS Employees for Freedom is a non-partisan public service employee group seeking an amicable solution on behalf of its members with their employer. The group is a growing association of more than 450 B.C. public servants from a wide range of professional backgrounds and disciplines, and includes both management and regular employees. Collectively, we have many hundreds, if not thousands, of years of faithful public service behind us, and we look forward to performing many more. We are not protesting, but rather trying to follow the right process to resolve our current employment situation by writing and communicating with our employer, public officials and the public. We look forward to sharing many more employee stories in the coming days and weeks. We are exploring all legal options available to us, including proceeding to court to file an injunction, however we hope to avoid this if at all possible. For comment on any potential legal action on behalf of BCPS Employees for Freedom, please contact our legal counsel:

Umar Sheikh and Bruce Hallsor, Q.C.
Crease Harman LLP
Barristers & Solicitors
usheikh@crease.com
hallsor@crease.com

BCPS Employees for Freedom Media

Website: bcpsforfreedom.com
Librti: BCPS for Freedom
YouTube: BCPS Employees for Freedom
Instagram: bcpublicservantsforfreedom
Rumble: BCPS Employees for Freedom
Vimeo: BCPS Employees for Freedom

Contact:

bcps4freedom.media@protonmail.com

The post BC Public Service Employees Speak Out appeared first on BCPS Employees for Freedom Society.