‘Action needs to be taken’: Front-line workers coalition calls for downtown safety plan

Safety concerns have prompted several unions to form a coalition calling for increased safety measures.

A coalition of unions representing tens of thousands of front-line workers is calling for a meeting with the mayor of Winnipeg and Manitoba’s justice minister to hash out a plan to improve safety in downtown Winnipeg.

The coalition is comprised of seven unions representing transit, emergency services, retail, public service and community program workers.

“We basically have come together to say that we think that there should be a unified response to the downtown safety concerns that our members and the general public are facing,” said Keri D’Avignon-Nault, who is regional national vice-president with the Canada Employment and Immigration Union/Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Workers face a number of safety issues, the group says, be it while providing addictions treatment to those walking to and from their cars when working downtown.

To address these issues, the coalition said it has developed a five-point safety plan in consultation with front-line workers across sectors.

It prioritizes expanding mental health and addiction supports and enhancing protections and supports for workers facing violence, harassment and unsafe conditions.

The group wants to meet with Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham and Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe in the coming weeks to demand “tangible action” on the issue.

“This is being left too long. There’s been too much neglect and as a result, action needs to be taken, and it needs to be taken now,” said CUPE Local 500 President Gold Delbridge.

A spokesperson for Mayor Gillingham told CTV News his office has yet to receive a request for a meeting, a draft plan or any communication from the group.

“I meet with many of these groups regularly, and my door is always open to talk about worker safety,” Mayor Gillingham said, noting work that is already underway downtown, like adding police officers, the new Community Safety Team and the Safe Winnipeg Initiative.

Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said Tuesday his office is in discussions with the group.

“We know that they want to be part of the solution and part of making our downtown safer and so we have a meeting set up,” he said.

- With files from CTV’s Glenn Pismenny