(File photo/CHATNEWSToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

only province without one

UFCW Local 401 pens letter to Kenney calling for mask policy

Nov 22, 2020 | 11:49 AM

CALGARY, AB- The union that represents tens of thousands of food service and grocery
employees have penned a letter to premier Jason Kenney and major grocery store chains calling for a mandatory mask policy.

The letter, written by UFCW president Thomas Hesse and Executive Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart, notes Alberta is the only province without a mandatory mask policy and greater action is needed to protect their members.

“We are now facing the exponential spread of a virus that has already taken our member’s lives, and the lack of masking rules is putting our members’ lives at risk every day they go to work providing Albertans with food production and retail grocery services. Your government has deemed our members’ work to be essential in this pandemic. We implore you to give them the protections they deserve in the workplace by instituting provincewide, mandatory public masking,” a part of the letter read.

Heese further argued the protection of the public from the virus cannot be solely be put on the backs of private-sector employers.

“Premier, lives are at stake. There is no time to wait. We cannot rely on private sector employers to enforce rules that your government will not. Please take action today to stop the spread of COVID-19 with a mandatory public masking policy that will provide every worker in Alberta with a fighting chance to stay safe when they go to work, and the peace of mind that their government was willing to give them this most basic protective measure,” the letter concluded.

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On Friday, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province’s chief medical officer of health, said discussions for what restrictions will be deemed appropriate ‘ have not happened yet.

(CHAT News Today)