Winnipeg to drop mask use for public, not employees

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This article was published 23/02/2022 (1367 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Transit passengers soon won’t have to wear a mask — and it’s the bus operators union that helped drive the decision.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 (which represents drivers and mechanics) feared not just public backlash but the increased potential for violence against bus operators. It encouraged the City of Winnipeg not to go on its own and extend passenger mask mandates beyond provincial COVID-19 public health rules lifting the requirement March 15.

“We raised the issue that it would be a problem in enforcement and would cause a lot of problems for our operators and the inspectors, as well,” union president Romeo Ignacio said Wednesday. “It’s just being consistent. We are for safety for everyone, but we want consistency to avoid problems for our members.”

As civic employees, however, Transit drivers will continue to wear masks — the City of Winnipeg is requiring use of the personal equipment while at work.

ATU, just like the city, will still encourage people to wear masks when they travel on buses, Ignacio said.

“Buses are a small space,” he said. “There is the potential to spread a virus, whether it is the annual flu or another flu-like virus.

“But, if the public health orders say there is no more need for that, you would think they know better and have the data… but we definitely would encourage people to still wear them.”

Last month, Mayor Brian Bowman said he would like to see the city’s public face mask mandate continue even after provincial law no longer required it.

“It’s one way in which we can mitigate risk for the residents and our staff in facilities and Transit buses,” Bowman said at the time.

However, the City of Winnipeg announced Wednesday it will follow new provincial public health rules, which will have it drop proof of vaccination requirements for entering civic facilities (including libraries and pools) March 1, and lift mask requirements and other restrictions March 15.

Bowman was not available for comment Wednesday.

Michael Jack, Winnipeg chief administrative officer, said in a statement while the city doesn’t know all the details or the implications of the reduced restrictions, “our emergency operations centre is nonetheless continuing to work closely with civic departments to plan for these two eventualities and their potential impacts on our programs, services, and operations.”

“While it would be our preference to maintain a mandatory mask requirement for members of the public, independent of the anticipated provincial orders, it’s just not feasible. We do not have the resources to properly enforce it, nor do we want to put our employees in potentially confrontational situations,” Jack said.

Gord Delbridge, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500, which represents about 4,000 civic workers, said members will continue to follow public health guidelines, no matter what they are.

“Our position has always been we’re dealing with the mandates and restrictions as presented to us,” said Delbridge.

“As long as they’re following all public health orders, we have to follow them. Our guidelines are to follow the rules and the letter of the law.”

Meanwhile, despite calls from business organizations for the city to immediately bring its employees working at home back to downtown offices — to help boost area restaurants and stores — it will be taking a gradual and varied approach.

Jack said about 17 per cent of the city’s workforce (about 1,800 employees) are currently working remotely all or some of the time.

“We are intending to implement a flexible and remote work program for eligible employees, which will allow us to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness and adapt to evolving service and workforce needs while continuing to provide quality service to our customers,” the CAO said in a statement.

“The implementation of such a program will help position the city as an employee of choice, one that values flexibility in where and how work is performed, and allow us to retain and attract top talent in an increasingly competitive environment.”

Any return to the workplace will happen “gradually, and with the health and safety of our employees as a top priority. Employees will have the option to start returning to the workplace come March 1, including participating in person at committee meetings,” the city said.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca