Academic study released today in North Bay finds Ontario health care staff worked under psychological distress in pandemic, feeling “sacrificed” and violated

Health Care

NORTH BAY, ON – Working unprotected and facing psychological distress over fears of contracting COVID-19 nurses, personal support workers (PSWs), custodians and other Ontario front-line health care workers felt they were being “sacrificed” by governments, according to a new peer-reviewed study released today in North Bay. Dr. James Brophy and Dr. Margaret Keith, academic researchers…

Academic study finds Ontario health care staff worked under psychological distress in pandemic, feeling “sacrificed” and violated

Health Care

TORONTO, ON. – Working unprotected and facing psychological distress over fears of contracting COVID-19 nurses, personal support workers (PSWs), custodians and other Ontario front-line health care workers felt they were being “sacrificed” by governments, according to a new peer-reviewed study published today. Dr. James Brophy and Dr. Margaret Keith, academic researchers affiliated with the University…

Ford Conservatives aren’t listening to scientific experts with new COVID-19 guidelines

COVID-19, Health Care

(TORONTO, ON) – CUPE Ontario is raising alarm bells about an explosive report in today’s Toronto Star illustrating how the Ford Conservatives are ignoring some of Ontario’s top public health experts by setting thresholds four times higher in new COVID-19 guidelines than those recommended by public health specialists. “What is being reported today goes beyond…

Government’s move towards lower classification of workers is not good for Long-Term Care residents: CUPE

Health Care, Time To Care

Toronto, ON – The Ontario government’s move towards hiring a lower classification of workers in long-term care will have consequences for residents and workers, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees. The government’s announcement on Monday called on unemployed workers, including those displaced from the retail and hospitality sector to help out at long-term care…

CUPE welcomes Ontario government’s move towards a legislated care standard – urges swift action on Bill 13

COVID-19, Health Care, Time To Care

TORONTO, ON. – As the second wave of COVID-19 makes staffing a critical issue in long-term care homes, the Canadian Union of Public Employees is urging the Ontario legislature to pass Bill 13, the Time to Care Act. The proposed legislation passed second reading today but must go through a third and final reading before…

Health care unions welcome Ontario Long-Term Care Commission’s recommendation to institute a four-hour care standard

COVID-19, Health Care, Time To Care

TORONTO, ON – Ontario’s Long-Term COVID-19 Commission released an interim report today, calling on the government to implement a minimum daily care standard of four hours of hands-on care per resident. “We thank the commission for their work and for recognizing the need to institute a staffing standard,” said Candace Rennick, CUPE Ontario’s Secretary-Treasurer. “Residents…

94% of workplace leaders in long-term care say staffing has worsened since Premier promised to act on the crisis

Health Care

TORONTO, ON. – Despite the Ontario government’s promises to deal with the crisis in staffing in long-term care, 94% of the workplace leaders of the 200 long-term care facilities represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) polled this week report that the situation has actually worsened. Ontario had the country’s lowest staff-to-long-term care…

“Something to be thankful for”: CUPE Ontario applauds ONDP’s comprehensive plan to overhaul long-term care and home care

Health Care, Time To Care

TORONTO, ON – The Ontario New Democratic Party’s (ONDP) plan to deliver a public and non-profit home care and long-term care system is the “comprehensive vision Ontarians need”, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario. CUPE Ontario, which represents more than 60,000 health care workers in Long-Term Care, Community Home Care and Hospitals,…