Conference shows hope of reintegrating disabled VANCOUVER, B.C. — Ina long over- due meeting between 45 people from trade unions, forest companies, disa- bled group and government here on May 14, serious discussion took place about getting injured workers back into the workforce. A one day invitational workshop/ conference co-sponsored by the Disa- bled Forestry Workers Foundation of Canada in association with IWA -CANADA,, MacMillan Bloedel, CPU, the Royal Bank of Canada, the Secre- tary of State and the BC. Ministry of Labour and Consumer Affairs was held to discuss how employers, unions, governments and consumers could form partnerships to ensure the reintegration of injured workers. Earl Foxcroft, Executive member of the Disabled Forestry Workers Foundation and IWA - CANADA, Local 1-85 President, outlined the Founda- tion’s early activities in Port Alberni which enlisted the support of MB, the IWA, the CPU, educational institu- tions and Labour Councils in the pro- duction of the critically acclaimed “Every 12 Seconds” which examined the plight of injured workers. Foxcroft said that production’s suc- cess combined with the encourage- ment of people from industry, govern- ments and labour started the organi- zation in the right direction. A Canada wide conference on disa- bled persons held in Ottawa in June of 1990 sponsored by the federal govern- ment brought together consumers, federal and provincial government reps and consumer groups to discuss the needs of the disabled. “This conference (June 1990) received world wide recognition and brought to our attention that other countries were working on improving the situation for disabled people and were far ahead of Canada in the devel- opment of programs,” said Brother Foxcroft. Foxcroft said representation at the conference by Germany and Australia make it clear that Canada has a long way to go in understanding what the needs of the disabled are and in the development of the type of programs necessary to improve conditions for the disabled. Top politicians make their commitments to disabled VANCOUVER, B.C. — Three high level politicians attended a Disabled Workers’ Symposium to give appar- ent commitment to the reintegration of injured workers. The Honourable Marcel Danis, Fed- eral Minister of Labour, told the sym- posium that “the reintegration of dis- abled workers to the workplace is ... a very serious issue and cause for national concern.” “The rapid changes caused by new technology and globalization of mar- kets create a demand for skilled work- ers at a time when the Canadian labour force is aging and its growth is slowing down.” Danis said that industry can’t afford to ignore the talents and poten- tial contributions of an underutilized human resource. “The time has come for action in order to ensure that a strategically important element of our population is not forced to sit on the sidelines,” said the Minister. “They (disabled persons) should be given the opportu- nity to achieve their full potential as workers and members of society.” Danis cited federal statistics which revealed that each year about 300,000 Canadians become fully or partially disabled. More than 500,000 disabled Cana- dians make up about 13% of the coun- try’s population. According to the Minister, the “chief role” of Labour Canada is to “act as a facilitator and catalyst in bringing together groups with similar interests and divergent views.” He went on to say that the reinte- gration of injured workers is a “socio economic imperative.” a From that perspective, Danis said “We will not be able to exploit our economy’s natural competitive advan- tages if we neglect to invest in our most precious of all natural resources ... the workforce.” “I realize there is still substantial resistance to the acceptance of disa- bled persons among the general popu- lation,” added Danis. “However, bar- riers are gradually being broken down by determined alliances such as are in this room today.” The Minister gave no real hint of impending government legislation to take affirmative action in the reinte- gration of injured workers. B.C. Minister of Labour and Con- sumer Affairs, Jim Rabbit, told the conference delegates that “injured workers have a basic right to be reha- bilitated and reintegrated.” Acknowledging the delays and bureaucracy that injured workers face, Rabbit said “a national strategy must be developed.” The Minister said that his govern- ment is enacting employment equity legislation in the public service to benefit those with disabilities as well as women, natives, visible minorities, who work within the public service. Member of Parliament, Dr. Bruce Halliday, Chairperson of the Parlia- mentary Standing Committee on Human Rights and the Status of Disa- bled Persons, said that voluntary action is preferable for the reintegra- tion of injured workers. He said that government should “act as silent brokers” and that new ideas are needed to change public opinion. According to Halliday, the Cana- dian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees that those with physical disabilities will not be discriminated against. The Minister said that there is an urgent need to educate both the employers and labour as to what the limitations of government jurisdic- tion are. Halliday also said that soci- ety must be enlightened to the prob- lems of disabilities through the media. © Wolfgang Zimmerman, director of the Disabled Forestry Workers Foundation. MacMillan Bloedel and IWA- CANADA announced at the conference in Ottawa last year, a joint task force to examine, study, and develop a paper to let all participants know what is needed for the reintegration of injured workers. The DFWF was invited to Ger- many to study that country’s suc- cesses with disabled workers. The conference here heard from members of the DFWF as they reported on the German experience. Blake Williams of Labour Canada said that legal statutes providing acci- dent insurance in Germany are over 100 years old. Williams said the pillars of the German system are Federal State laws, which enforce regulations on individual states and stress early intervention and rehabilitation of workers before compensation, and uni- versal accident insurance. As any measure of the success, Germany’s record of re-employing injured workers is over 90% whereas in Canada between 80-90% of injured workers are unemployed. MacMillan Bloedel’s Labour Rela- tions Director, Peter Lawrie, said a visit to Hoesch Steel, which is Europe’s leading producer, revealed that 12% of the 14,000 member work force are disabled employees. Lawrie said that workplace ergo- nomics have increased the success of reintegrating disabled workers and are part of Hoesch’s competitive eco- nomic strategy. Brian Payne, a representative of the Canadian Paperworkers Union on the tour, said that Germany’s quota system is nota be all and end all to the problem. He expressed an opinion that both the company and union can get injured workers back without com- promising their positions. Payne said that the German unions don’t jeopardize their members’ seniority by speci: modified jobs given to the disabled workforce. He said that some jobs given to reintegrated workers might siphon off some of the duties of senior work- ers but the senior people wouldn't have their positions affected. Payne also said the German work- ers are covered by employer paid Acci- dent and Sickness Insurance. In addition to the German experi- ence, Wolfgang Zimmerman, the DFWF’s executive director, gave the symposium a run down on Australia’s COMCARE system of worker reinte- gration. COMCARE, introduced in 1989, is an Australian Federal Workers Com- pensation Board which covers 525,000 workers. Mr. Zimmerman characterized the system as managed and coordinated from the workplace in integration with the workers’ compensation system. If an injured worker is off for more than 20 days, the employer must man- datorily undertake a reintegration program. Zimmerman said the three essential elements that make COMCARE work are accident prevention, rehabilita- tion and finally compensation. He also said that financial incentives are in place as employers are rewarded with decreased compensation premi- ums for compliance with the program. © Earl Foxcroft (I.) an Executive Director of the DFWF and President of IWA Local 1-85, presents Federal Minister of Labour Marcel Danis with gift to mark federal gov- ernment’s new commitment to the disabled. 10/LUMBERWORKER/AUGY 199]