Care aides in Vernon replaced early by contracted workers

VANCOUVER, May 21 /CNW/ - Care aides at Heritage Square seniors' facility in Vernon arrived at work this morning to find out that they had been replaced by contracted workers three weeks before they were due to be laid off.

The employer sent notice to the approximately 40 care aides in December 2009 and April 2010 that their jobs would be contracted out effective June 15. However, today with no warning, the employer brought in new care aides contracted from We Care.

"Workers were shocked when they arrived at the facility early this morning for their shift to find out that they had been replaced prematurely by contracted care aides," says Debra Critchley, BC Government and Service Employees' Union staff representative.

"Some of these care aides have been delivering quality care at Heritage Square for almost twenty years and they didn't even get to say goodbye to the residents."

"The workers are devastated - not just because they are losing their jobs, but because they are worried about what the future holds for the seniors that they have been caring for," says Critchley.

BCGEU will be taking all necessary legal steps to make sure that the care aides are compensated for the time that they are owed.

Heritage Square is a care facility in Vernon which offers complex care and assisted living to seniors in the Okanagan.

For further information: Erin Sikora, BCGEU Communications, [phone]