Province 'not leading by example,' with too many Manitoba civil servants not working remotely: union

The province of Manitoba is gradually heeding the advice of its chief public health officer and asking more civil servants to work from home, but a union leadersays the government can do a better job at getting people out of its offices.

In early November, 800 additional civil servants headed home for work,a government spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The number of governmentemployees athometotalled4,200as of mid-November, out of a 12,000-strong civil service.

Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin has pleaded with employers to let their staff work from home whenever possible. Hiscalls have grownlouder as Manitoba embarked on a near-lockdownlast monthto slow the spread of COVID-19.

But the union representing the majority of Manitoba's civil servants saytoo many about two-thirds are still going intotheirworkplaces.

"They're definitely not leading by example, that's for sure," said Michelle Gawronsky, president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union.

"When we have the ability to work from home and the government itself is not keeping its own workforce at home where it can, that is definitely not setting the best example," she said.

MGEUhas filed a grievance with the province, arguing the "employer has failed to follow the clear and consistent advice" that encourages remote working.

Union members say somemanagersaren't getting the message, Gawronsky said.

In many cases, supervisorsmade allowances for staff to work fromhome, either fully or partially. Some managers refused, however,even though when employeescould work from home, she said.

About half of civil service can't work from home

Gawronsky wrote to Minister of Central Services Reg Helwer to urge more managers to follow Roussin'sadvice.

"I'm asking the minister to ensure that all that can work from home are given the ability and permission to be able to do so," she said.

She's encouraged by the bump in remote work reported in November, an increase from the 3,400 staffwho were at home in late October.

"I believe that the numbers have increased slightly, but there's a long way to go."

Half of Manitoba's civil service, around 6,000 employees, must be physically at their workplaces, such as those working in corrections, health institutions and social services, the province said by email.

That leaves around 6,000 employees who could presumably work remotely, but the spokesperson saidthat isn't actually possible in every situation.

"Not every jobcan be done from home. Not everyone wants to work from home," the email said.

The government added that every manager has been told to consider remote work for their staff when possible.

Roussin was asked on Tuesday how private industry can be expected to follow pleas toallow working from home, when some sayadherencefromgovernment is lacking.

"I don't think that'sa question for me," Roussin said. "I think my message is clear, and that is that when possible, when you can achieve what you need to achieve at home, then employers should strongly consider doing that."

Those pleas towork from homeare backed byscience, saidSyed Sattar, a professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa who was one of the first researchers to explore how the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 spreads indoors.

Early researchfocused on the dangers of large droplets landingon surfaces, but Sattar notes the risk of smaller droplets thatlinger in the air needs to be taken seriously.

He describesairborne spread as an "environmental equalizer."

"You may choose not to drink the water there,you may choose not to drink or eat the food there," Sattar said.

"But if you are in a setting where there are other people in that same surrounding, you cannot avoid inhaling the same air."

He said good air ventilation, mask-wearing and having fewer people in a confined setting are all helpfulmeasures to prevent COVID-19 from spreading, but transmission is still possible.

Crowns, city make accommodations

Manitoba's Crown corporations say they're doing their part to prevent that spread.

Manitoba Public Insurance has roughly 70 per cent of its staff, which numbered 1,808 in the last fiscal year, working from home.

The remaining staff are required to go to work, typically those meeting customers, and staff working in IT.

Roughly 650 of Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries staff, who normally work out of the corporate offices,are based at home. There arealso1,400 staff working at Liquor Marts, 150 staff atvarious properties and 1,100 still laid off due to the pandemic.

Manitoba Hydro had 1,460 employees athome full-time and640 staff splitting their time between home and their workplaceas of October. There areseveral hundred front-line workersdispatched from home whenneeded.

The rest of Hydro's 5,000-person workforce ensures electricity and natural gas operations keep running, the company said.

As well, the City of Winnipeg says 1,852 of its annual average of 10,600 employees are staying at home.

More government employees should work from home, MGEU charges

4 years ago

Duration 1:52

The province of Manitoba is gradually heeding the advice of its chief public health officer and asking more civil servants to work from home, but a union leader says the government can do a better job at getting people out of its offices.