Health and Safety

It's Time to Enact Health and Safety Legislation for Parliament Hill Workers

Parliamentary Employment Staff Relations Act Part III

What is PESRA?

PESRA is a piece of legislation, C-45, the Parliamentary Employment Staff Relations Act (PESRA) which was proclaimed on June 27, 1986. This legislation is limited in its application to employees of the Senate, House of Commons, the Library of Parliament and to employees of a Member of Parliament.

The Act divides its reforms into three sections: bargaining rights, working conditions and occupational health and safety standards. In 1986, this legislation was passed which allowed for the employees of Parliament Hill to become unionized and to be represented for almost all working conditions. For some unknown reason the Conservative Government refused to proclaim more than the first part of the Act into force which leaves Parliament Hill employees, unlike other federal workers, unprotected by any federal health and safety law.

Part III of the Parliamentary Employment Staff Relations Act include the same conditions as those under Part II (Occupational Health and Safety) of the Canada Labour Code which would simply extend to all workers of Parliament, the same basic occupational health and safety rights and conditions as all other working Canadians who fall under the federal jurisdiction of the Canada Labour Code.