Your Women’s Committee deals with issues surrounding gender equality in the workplace.  Many gains have been made over the years to ensure that there are equal pay and job progression opportunities. As such, much of the work done by your Women’s Committee now focuses on pregnancy and family issues.  We are always available through email to answer questions about workplace accommodation, family care leaves, etc. If you are interested in knowing more about parental and childcare leaves you can reference our updated “From Here to Maternity” found on our website or mobile app.  If you have other questions feel free to reach out to us at womens@accomponent.ca.

It is long settled law that employers bear the primary onus in the duty to accommodate. This is primarily because they manage and control the workplace, and they have the legal capacity to make many of the necessary decisions to ensure the success of an accommodation request. However, unions and employees also bear duties and responsibilities as well, as the Supreme Court of Canada established in its 1992 judgement, Central Okanagan School District No. 23 v. Renaud [1992] 2 S.C.R. 970. Unions generally have a responsibility to reasonably facilitate the accommodations process. Employees have a responsibility to self-accommodate.

Put simply, there are three actors in a scenario in which accommodation is being sought: the employer, the union, and the employee. Although the employer and the union have their own roles to play, it is important that employees understand what responsibilities they have in facilitating their own accommodation requests.

Accommodation can often be very individual and fact-specific, and the Union is here for you to help you understand the process. If you are seeking or have sought accommodation and are wondering what your responsibilities might be, or if you are curious about recommendations for best practices, please reach out to your Union Local for guidance.

Your Component Grievance Committee is the backbone of many of the Union’s activities. Their hard work and efforts are one of the ways that we are able to enforce our Collective Agreement and to improve the working and personal lives of our members.  If you have a question about a policy grievance you can reach out to them at i.jovic@accomponent.ca.