Olympics on way means workers need to know their rights
Vancouver is blowing up. The Olympics are rushing towards us, the Shangri-la blocks out more of the mountains everyday, and a single condo at the Hotel Georgia (still under construction) just sold for a Vancouver-record of $18 million. For Vancouver’s construction industry, it all means real money.
But as competitive wages attract an ever-growing numbers of employees to the construction industry, there is a growing need for workers to be aware of their rights.
“A number of industries are booming in British Columbia where there are historically fairly significant injury rates,” said Monique Pongracic-Speier, a lawyer who has worked on workers’ injury claims in Vancouver for the last five years.
“It is important that young workers in particular have access to information about safety issues on the job, first of all,” Pongracic-Speier continued, “and then second of all, what their rights and their obligations are when they are injured.”
Pongracic-Speier explained that in what has come to be called the “historic compromise” of 1917, workers in B.C. gave up their right to sue employers for work-related injuries or disease. In exchange, they were made eligible to receive benefits from regulatory bodies such as Worksafe B.C., through statutes like the Workers Compensation Act.
“So it’s really important to know that you can make that claim and indicate that you’ve been injured, and make sure that you get appropriate treatment and benefits,” Pongracic-Speier said.
Chris Pazik is a 27-year-old welder and fabricator in Vancouver. In 2003, he was sliding a heavy saw horse across the floor when his back gave out. Looking back, there are several things he wishes he knew about his rights as an injured worker.
The first thing a worker should do when they are injured, Pazik said, speaking from experience, is report it to their employer’s first aid advisor. “And then see a doctor and keep on going to the doctor, making sure that you get all of the paper work so that you have evidence on file,” he said.
Pazik continued, “If you’re going through the [WorkSafe B.C.] process, don’t be naí¯ve. Make sure you know what they are trying to tell you. Don’t let them try to lead you on in any way.”
Pongracic-Speier stressed the importance of even the most basic knowledge of workers’ rights. As Vancouver’s booming economy pulls a younger demographic into its labour force, she said, workers need to know that their jobs can be dangerous. When accidents do happen, there are options.
But as competitive wages attract an ever-growing numbers of employees to the construction industry, there is a growing need for workers to be aware of their rights.
“A number of industries are booming in British Columbia where there are historically fairly significant injury rates,” said Monique Pongracic-Speier, a lawyer who has worked on workers’ injury claims in Vancouver for the last five years.
“It is important that young workers in particular have access to information about safety issues on the job, first of all,” Pongracic-Speier continued, “and then second of all, what their rights and their obligations are when they are injured.”
Pongracic-Speier explained that in what has come to be called the “historic compromise” of 1917, workers in B.C. gave up their right to sue employers for work-related injuries or disease. In exchange, they were made eligible to receive benefits from regulatory bodies such as Worksafe B.C., through statutes like the Workers Compensation Act.
“So it’s really important to know that you can make that claim and indicate that you’ve been injured, and make sure that you get appropriate treatment and benefits,” Pongracic-Speier said.
Chris Pazik is a 27-year-old welder and fabricator in Vancouver. In 2003, he was sliding a heavy saw horse across the floor when his back gave out. Looking back, there are several things he wishes he knew about his rights as an injured worker.
The first thing a worker should do when they are injured, Pazik said, speaking from experience, is report it to their employer’s first aid advisor. “And then see a doctor and keep on going to the doctor, making sure that you get all of the paper work so that you have evidence on file,” he said.
Pazik continued, “If you’re going through the [WorkSafe B.C.] process, don’t be naí¯ve. Make sure you know what they are trying to tell you. Don’t let them try to lead you on in any way.”
Pongracic-Speier stressed the importance of even the most basic knowledge of workers’ rights. As Vancouver’s booming economy pulls a younger demographic into its labour force, she said, workers need to know that their jobs can be dangerous. When accidents do happen, there are options.
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