The province’s largest public sector union is advocating once again for the implementation of paid sick days for workers across the board.

NAPE President Jerry Earle says they have members who are essential workers who, due to staffing shortages, were expected to show up for their shift despite being COVID positive and still experiencing symptoms.

That is a separate situation from the one in the private sector where some front-line workers may have had to decide whether they could afford to stay off when sick.

Earle says the pandemic has offered a good example of why a ten-day sick leave policy should be in place in all workplaces.