Late last year, the Pallister government repealed the Retail Business Hours of Operation Act, allowing retail businesses to treat Sunday like any other day of business and schedule workers into the evening. However, the government kept the right to refuse to work on Sundays. This important right allows you some flexibility in your life when you need it.
The right to refuse work on Sundays lets you take a Sunday off (with 14 days notice) and not have this day off count as restricting your hours. Your employer can not punish you or discriminate against you in any way for exercising this right.
Now, our Conservative government is creating a new loophole for employers. If this regulation amendment goes through, Employers have the right to ask you to sign away your rights when you’re hired. This allows the employer to intimidate and discriminate as part of the hiring process.
If you have not signed a waiver, then you will not lose this right, however we’re asking you to speak up for your future coworkers, and help them enjoy the right to refuse Sunday work without discrimination.
How can you help?
- Visit this website: https://reg.gov.mb.ca/detail/4739012 before July 30, 2021
- Click on the comment button
- Register
- Tell the government that you think the right to refuse Sunday work should be preserved.
Your Union, along with the Manitoba Federation of Labour, will be submitting our concerns with this amendment. We encourage all of you to comment here, and tell the government how important this amendment is for you and your family.
If you have any further questions on the right to refuse work on Sundays, please contact your Union Representative.