Media Advisory: Unifor report to identify crisis and solutions for Ontario's LTC sector

TORONTO, Dec. 7, 2019 /CNW/ - On Monday December 9, Unifor will release a report titled Caring in Crisis: Ontario's Long-Term Care PSW Shortage. Unifor commissioned the Ontario Health Coalition to produce report and seek recommendations from all stakeholders, including front line health care workers across Ontario.

"The long-term care crisis impacts more than 100,000 staff, 80,000 residents, and their tens of thousands of family members across our province," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "Today I challenge Premier Doug Ford to spend a shift at a long-term care home in Ontario with me. He needs to witness what's really happening to our seniors and the workers that provide the care."

·	WHAT:	Media Conference and Report Release
·	WHERE:	Queen's Park Media Studio
·	WHEN:	December 9, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.
·	WHO:	Jerry Dias, Unifor National President
		Natalie Mehra, Executive Director Ontario Health Coalition
		Cindy Hasler, Unifor Local 504 Vice President and Personal Support Worker
		Andy Savela, Unifor Health Care Director

As part of Unifor's on-going Care Takes Time campaign that aims to reverse long-term care funding cuts and build a sector that respects patient dignity and demands fairness for healthcare workers, the union partnered with the Ontario Health Coalition and held eight round table forums across Ontario on the crisis of long-term care.

"In our cross-province consultation we found there is total consensus from home operators, PSWs, family councils, college PSW program staff, from everyone, that there is a real and pressing PSW crisis," said Natalie Mehra, Executive Director at the Ontario Health Coaltion. "The situation is severe and it is endangering vital care." 

More than 350 long-term care human resource managers, administrators, directors, owners, union representatives, PSWs, family council members, college PSW program staff, municipal councillors, advocates for the elderly and local health coalitions participated.

"The unsafe working conditions and low wages PSWs receive are fueling the crisis in long-term care," said Cindy Hasler, Unifor Local 504 Vice President and Personal Support Worker. "Long-term care workers across Ontario are demanding that Premier Ford implement the common sense solutions in the Caring in Crisis Report."

The union released a video that taps into the reality of working and living in long-term homes. To view the Unifor "Crisis in long-term care" video click here.

Unifor's Care Takes Time campaign aims to reverse long-term care funding cuts and build a sector that respects patient dignity and demands fairness for healthcare workers. For more information on the campaign visit www.caretakestime.ca

Unifor represents more than 30,000 health care workers, including hospitals, long-term care, emergency services, and community and social services and is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor

please contact Unifor Communications Representative Hamid Osman at [email protected] or [phone] (cell).

Related Links

http://www.unifor.org