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THESSALON, Ont. – Faced with layoffs and service reductions as of November 1st, 2011, Local 3695 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has launched a community campaign to warn the community about the impact of planned cuts in long-term care services at Algoma Manor, when it moves to a new facility in November.
“We have made presentations to municipal councillors, talked to our neighbours and friends, and now we are sending information to households in our community, highlighting the service cuts, and inviting voters to ask provincial election candidates where they stand on this important issue,” said Selby Kline, CUPE 3695 president, representing health care aides, personal support workers, maintenance, support services, dietary and program staff at Algoma Manor.
Layoff notices were sent to 29 employees of Algoma Manor, and will result in service reductions and staff cuts when the Manor will change from a Home for the Aged to a Nursing Home, and move to a new facility in November. The new facility will have only 96 beds, unlike the current one with 106 beds.
“In this election campaign, it is important to ask our local candidates what they will do to stop the cuts at Algoma,” said Robin Silverman, CUPE National Representative. “The impact of these cuts will be felt not only by the workers, but by the residents of the Manor and the community as a whole.”
“Residents may now have to wait longer for much needed care, such as bathing, changing, and feeding,” warned Kline. CUPE has long maintained that current standards of care in Ontario are not adequate to provide hands-on quality care. That’s why the union has campaigned for a minimum standard of 3.5 hours of care, per day, per resident. “Three and a half hours would still be stretching things, yet the Ontario government has failed to even establish that as a minimum standard of care – and Algoma Manor is going in the opposite direction with the planned service cuts. It’s wrong for workers, wrong for residents, and wrong for the community.”
CUPE 3695 members recently met with NDP candidate Mike Mantha, and have voted to support his campaign, based on his views on public services, NDP plans for investments in health care promotion and prevention, and his opposition to the planned cuts at Algoma. “The answers are in this room, the government needs to stop spending dollars on consultants, and consult with the people in this room,” said Mantha, referring to members of Local 3695 at the meeting.
“Our members know these cuts will hurt the community,” added Kline. “We provide dietary, restoration, personal support, housekeeping and building maintenance at Algoma Manor, essentially making this a real home for residents, and we work and spend our wages in our community. On top of the threat to quality care, Thessalon businesses will feel the impact of lost jobs in our community, and many will be forced to leave the area to find work.”
“Algoma Manor residents are members of the Thessalon community who have worked their entire lives to build this town and this province,” added Silverman. “They deserve to live out their lives with quality care and dignity.”
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For further information, please contact:
Selby Kline, president of CUPE 3695, 705-842-3010
Robin Silverman, CUPE national representative, 705-949-6221 ext. 23
