SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION CANADA

March 09, 2005 12:08 ET

UNIONS TO CALL FOR REGULATION TO STOP DEADLY INJURIES-MEDIA ADVISORY

Attention: City Editor, Health/Medical Editor, News Editor, Science Editor, Government/Political Affairs Editor TORONTO--(CCNMatthews - March 9, 2005) - Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Canada, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) will launch a campaign tomorrow demanding a law requiring the mandatory use of safety-engineered needles and medical sharps devices, or SEDs.

The campaign will mobilize over 80,000 members across Ontario to pressure the liberal government to convert the province from conventional needles to ones that incorporate engineering controls. SEDs can eliminate up to 90 per cent of all needle-stick injuries and save the government millions of dollars currently being spent on testing and treating workers who suffer these preventable injuries.

WHAT: SEIU Canada, OPSEU and OFL Joint News Conference

WHO: - Sharleen Stewart, Canadian International Vice-President, Service Employees International Union

- Leah Casselman, President, Ontario Public Service Employees Union

- Wayne Samuelson, President, Ontario Federation of Labour

WHEN: March 10 at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Queen's Park Media Studio

/For further information: Ted Mansell, Health and Safety Coordinator, SEIU Canada 416-427-9794 www.SaferNeedlesNow.ca/ IN: HEALTH, LABOUR