Workers calling on the governing Conservatives to do more in addressing concerns in long term care homes.
Both the Thunder Bay Health Coalition and Unifor joining 24 towns across Ontario in a Day of Action
Jules Tupker, Thunder Bay Health Coalition
Both groups want the lack of full-time work in long-term care addressed along with poor conditions for both residents and staff.
This comes on the heels of the government unveiling a temporary bump in pay
“It’s a joke!” exclaims Jules Tupker, the co-chair of the Thunder Bay Health Coalition. “We feel the [wage increase] that he’s given isn’t an incentive for people to start coming into long-term care, it’s more of a message of ‘please stay’ for those who are already in it. We’ll give you $3/hour or more to stick around because we can’t afford to lose more and more staff, which is what we’re doing.”
“There’s just not enough staff on the floor to take care of these residents and their needs everyday,” notes Lina Moore, a personal support worker in long term care.
Moore stresses that residents need at least four hours of bedside care each day, they’re not getting that right now. “You ever heard of the six minute challenge?” asks Moore “I’ll tell ya that’s what [residents] are getting in terms of care. You have no time, care takes time.”
