Mandatory flu shot called a serious invasion of the body

Press Release April 24, 2002

Toronto-A landmark decision by an experienced labour board arbitrator that says a mandatory flu shot for workers is a serious invasion of the body, has relevant implications to Ontario's 5000 paramedics who are waging a fight with the province to have a legislated mandatory flu vaccine removed from the Ambulance Act.

"This decision is central to the mandatory vaccine for paramedics because it says a forced flu shot infringes on the employees' privacy rights and that the express consent of the worker is required or it an assault of the person," says Steven Barrett with Sack, Goldblatt and Mitchell, the law firm that has just won another landmark court decision that has stopped the sale of Hydro One.

Sid Ryan, the Ontario president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the union that represents the majority of Ontario's 5000 paramedics and 40,000 health care workers province-wide and Michael Hurley, the president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU), will join Barrett for a media conference tomorrow, April 25 1:00 p.m. at Queen's Park, Media Studio to provide details of the labour board decision.

"The lack of leadership by the Minister of Health on this issue is mind-boggling. We have for months now attempted to get him to focus on this issue before we head into next fall and another flu season, when the majority of the province's paramedics will not be complying with the mandatory flu vaccine legislation," said Ryan.

For more information, contact Sid Ryan President CUPE Ontario (416) 209-0066