A large Canadian public service union has said it is “unacceptable” that Canada’s federal government would use “discipline” to mandate its new requirement that all civil servants receive COVID-19 vaccines by October.
“This week, national political party leaders have made concerning statements about disciplining or terminating federal public service workers who choose not to be vaccinated as part of the government’s vaccine mandate proposal,” said the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) in a press release Tuesday.
“PSAC supports vaccination requirements for federal workers to ensure the safety of our members in their workplaces, and to protect our communities, but using discipline and termination to enforce them is unacceptable,” it continued.
The PSAC noted that it has been in consultation with the federal government on their “vaccination proposal” and their “position is clear.”
“Employees with a valid medical reason for being unvaccinated, or for reasons protected by human rights legislation, must be offered a formal accommodation under the law,” declared the group.
The PSAC statement came after the Canadian federal government under Liberal Party Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last Friday that starting in October, it will be mandating COVID-19 jabs as a requirement for all civil servants.
The government also said COVID-19 jabs are required in order to travel domestically by air, train, or boat.
Trudeau then said this week that all federal workers and civil servants must get the COVID-19 jab or face “consequences.”