“It’s time for immediate action in long-term care”: a coalition of unions representing frontline healthcare workers respond to Ontario’s long-term care commission

COVID-19, Health Care

(TORONTO, ON) — SEIU Healthcare, CUPE Ontario, and Unifor, unions that represent healthcare workers across the long-term care sector, released the following joint statement in response to Ontario’s newly-announced commission into long-term care: “Elderly residents and frontline workers were let down by their government during the initial response to COVID-19. We saw the impacts of…

Canadian singer-songwriter, Sarah Harmer, performing Facebook concert session in support of “CARE NOT PROFITS” advocacy campaign to reinvest profits back into the long-term care system

COVID-19, Health Care

TORONTO — On Thursday, July 30 at 8:00pm EDT, Canadian singer-songwriter, Sarah Harmer, will perform a Facebook Live concert session in support of the “Care Not Profits” advocacy campaign to end for-profit long-term care delivery in Ontario. The platinum selling artist is adding her voice to the growing chorus of families demanding an end to…

End profit in long-term care, reinvest in more residents’ supports and staffing, urge advocates in new “CARE NOT PROFITS” campaign

COVID-19, Health Care, Uncategorized

TORONTO, ON – Ontarians are being urged to join a growing call for profound changes to the province’s long-term care system that would end profit-making in the provision of residential care. Today, SEIU Healthcare, CUPE, and Unifor, unions that represent workers across the long-term care sector, invited families to demand reforms from Premier Doug Ford…

”We want to continue to care for residents at the new Glen Hill long-term care home,” say front-line care staff whose working conditions are being attacked

COVID-19, Health Care

WHITBY, ON – The construction of a new a new long-term care home, Glen Hill Terrace by Durham Christian Homes was initially welcomed by the front-line care staff as a good news story for the community and the residents and their families. But the excitement of the new build on Glen Hill Drive in Whitby…

Health care workers reeling from Ontario government attack on their basic rights: CUPE seeks a mandate from its members to respond forcefully

COVID-19, Health Care

Toronto, ON – On Tuesday the provincial government introduced legislation suspending many workplace protections for health care staff for a period of at least one year. The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/Canadian Union of Public Employees is in the process of securing a mandate from its hospital members to oppose the legislation in a meaningful way.…

“It takes a team to care, fix bungled pandemic pay”: 75,000 hospital workers tell Premier on provincial day of action

COVID-19, Health Care

TORONTO, ON – Although they’ve provided therapies, tests and other key supports to patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of highly skilled hospital staff are still excluded from receiving Ontario’s $4/hour pandemic pay. In addition, none of the premium has flowed to the paycheques of staff the province has tapped as eligible. Today across Ontario…

Paramedics concerned about non-medical grade masks entering ambulance supply

COVID-19, Health Care, Paramedics

TORONTO, ON – Paramedics with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) are raising concerns about non-medical grade masks that may have entered some Ontario land ambulance services supplies. Ontario’s health minister yesterday told media that non-medical grade masks introduced into the paramedic service in Renfrew County entered the supply chain through sources other than…

LTC residents with COVID-19 should get hospital care and health staff better protection say Hamilton/Niagara residents polled

COVID-19, Health Care

HAMILTON & NIAGARA – ON – From high death rates in long-term care homes, concerning levels of health care worker infections and low COVID-19 testing, over 500 people polled in Hamilton and Niagara, say the provincial government is underperforming in how it is dealing with the pandemic response. The poll was conducted for the Canadian…