First Contract Update + What to Do If You’re Injured at Work

First Contract Update + What to Do If You’re Injured at Work

Dear members, 

As we described in the last email, the B.C. Labour Relations Board has ruled that, as a direct result of Amazon’s failures, an independent arbitrator will help outline our first contract with the company. 

It has been a long process (thanks to Amazon), and you can review all the legal victories and milestones we’ve achieved together in this timeline. 

We’re excited to share that an arbitrator has been appointed and it won’t be long now until you have a union contract—the first of its kind in North America. 

It’s clear that the workplace is still swimming in misinformation planted by the company as it tries to hide from its responsibility for undermining your democratic rights and stalling good faith bargaining.  

Let’s be clear: it is not just the union accusing Amazon of illegal and inappropriate conduct. Time and again, independent bodies and administrators have found Amazon to be in contravention of basic legal guidelines that are in place to protect workers.  

Your union has never backed down from Amazon, and as a result, you will soon have a fair union contract and more legal protections than any worker at Amazon in North America. 

________________________________________

In response to a number of requests, please find important information about what to do if Amazon’s reckless productivity standards lead to an injury at work. 

If you get hurt at work, here is what to do 

Over the past few months, members have come to us with questions about workplace injuries and how WorkSafeBC works. Here are the basics, in plain language. 

Some workers hesitate to report an injury or speak up about unsafe work. They worry about losing hours, losing their job, or being labelled a complainer. That worry is understandable. But in British Columbia, you have the right to a safe workplace, and it is against the law for an employer to punish you for reporting an injury or raising a health and safety concern. 

If you are injured at work 

1. Get safe first. Get first aid or emergency care if you need it. 
   
   
2. Tell your manager as soon as it is safe to do so. 
   
   
3. Tell every health care provider you see that the injury happened at work. Say it to the doctor, the nurse, the physiotherapist, everyone. 
   
   
4. Start a WorkSafeBC claim. This covers physical injuries, work-related illness, and mental health injuries. 
   
   
5. Follow your treatment plan. Ask your doctor about modified duties, which is lighter or different work you can safely do while you recover. 
   
   
6. Stay in touch with your union. We can help you at every step. 

Reporting to the employer 

Report your injury or illness as soon as you can. Delay is one of the most common reasons claims get denied. 

Report the injury to Amcare and complete the Injury/Incident Report with them. Amcare requires the injured worker to complete the form, which is then entered into the system. Amcare may also ask you questions about what happened after the report is completed.

Describe exactly what happened, and write down every symptom, even the small ones. For example: “bump on the head and sore neck.” A symptom that is not written down at the time is very hard to add to your claim later. 

The employer is required to report your injury to WorkSafeBC within 72 hours if you missed time from work or needed medical treatment beyond first aid. Do not rely on that alone. File your own report too. 

When to report to WorkSafeBC 

Report to WorkSafeBC as soon as you can if any of these apply: 

1. You received medical treatment, or you need it. 
   
   
2. You cannot return to work beyond the day you were injured. 
   
   
3. You have a physical injury, even if you miss no time at all. 
   
   
4. You were diagnosed with a work-related disease. 
   
   
5. You have a work-related mental health injury. 
   
   
6. A first aid attendant (Amcare) tells you to seek medical treatment. 

For a work-related illness or disease, report as soon as symptoms appear. You can still report even if you have changed jobs or are not working right now. 

How to report to WorkSafeBC 

Online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: worksafebc.com/en/claims/report-workplace-injury-illness 

Best for a physical injury from a single incident at work. Not for injuries that built up gradually over time. 

By phone (Teleclaim): 604.231.8888, or toll free 1.888.967.5377, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Call instead of using the online form if: 

1. The injury is serious, such as a long hospital stay, surgery, or care at home. 
   
   
2. It is a mental health injury. 
   
   
3. It involves sexual assault or sexual harassment. 
   
   
4. It involves hearing loss. 
   
   
5. The injury or condition developed slowly over time, not from one incident. 
   
   
6. It is a work-related disease or illness. 

Need Punjabi? Ask for an interpreter when you call. WorkSafeBC provides interpreters in more than 140 languages, at no cost to you. 

The most common mistake 

Assuming an injury is “minor” and not reporting it. 

If it gets worse later, the employer or WorkSafeBC may question whether it was work-related at all. Reporting early protects you. 

Time limits and benefits 

You have up to one year to report a workplace injury or disease to WorkSafeBC. Do not wait that long. Report right away. 

If you do not miss time from work, your claim may be recorded as a “no time loss” claim. WorkSafeBC can still cover your medical treatment. 

Early reporting protects your rights and creates a record in case your condition gets worse over time. 

Unsafe work and your right to speak up 

You have the right to refuse work that you have reasonable cause to believe is unsafe. If that happens, stop the work and tell your supervisor right away. You cannot be disciplined or lose pay for following the proper steps. 

It is illegal for an employer to punish you for reporting an injury or raising a health and safety concern. Punishment can include discipline, a cut in hours, a transfer, a lost promotion, or intimidation. This is called a “prohibited action.” 

If you think you are being punished for speaking up, call the union first. In a unionized workplace like ours, this is usually pursued either through the union grievance process or through a WorkSafeBC complaint, not both at the same time. There are also deadlines. Talk to us before you file anything so we can protect your rights properly. 

Useful WorkSafeBC links 

1. How workers report an injury, and what happens next:
   https://www.worksafebc.com/en/claims/report-workplace-injury-illness/how-workers-report-workplace-injury-illness
    
2. Report a workplace injury or disease:
   https://www.worksafebc.com/en/claims/report-workplace-injury-illness 
   
   
3. Refusing unsafe work:
   
   https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/create-manage/rights-responsibilities/refusing-unsafe-work 
   
   
4. Prohibited action complaints:
   https://www.worksafebc.com/en/for-workers/just-for-you/prohibited-action-complaints
    
5. Claims contact information and hours:
   https://www.worksafebc.com/en/contact-us/departments-and-services/claims 

To report unsafe working conditions to WorkSafeBC directly, call the Prevention Information Line at 1.888.621.7233. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

What to do next 

Save this email. If you are injured, you will not want to be searching for phone numbers. 

If you have any questions about a claim, an injury, or an unsafe job, contact your steward or reach out to me directly. You do not have to sort this out alone. 

Mario Santos 
Unifor National Representative