This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
"It's outrageous that our members and other workers are being assaulted on a weekly basis at the Forensic hospital and the employer is doing nothing about it." — Stephanie Smith, BCGEU President
Burnaby (13 Sept. 2018) — The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) reports that 4 staff members at Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam have been injured in another violent attack by a patient this week. The BCGEU/NUPGE is demanding that WorkSafeBC investigate security measures at the facility.
BCGEU/NUPGE members report that 2 health care workers and 2 nurses were attacked by a patient on September 11, with 1 health care worker being taken to hospital with severe injuries.
This is the textbook definition of an unsafe workplace
"It's outrageous that our members and other workers are being assaulted on a weekly basis at the Forensic hospital and the employer is doing nothing about it," said Stephanie Smith, BCGEU President. "This is the textbook definition of an unsafe workplace.
"The bottom line is that every working person in this province deserves a safe workplace and every employer owes their employees a safe workplace," stated Smith. "The BCGEU/NUPGE is demanding that WorkSafeBC step in and investigate worker safety in the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital and order the employer to do the right thing.
The employer obviously is not listening
"WorkSafeBC has issued 57 safety orders at Forensics in the past 5 years, along with 102 inspection reports documenting the employer's failure to protect its workers. The employer obviously is not listening, and we believe it's time for the B.C. government to take over management of this facility," said Smith.