Le Lézard
Classified in: Covid-19 virus
Subjects: LBR, PSF, AVO

Chartwell Retirement Home's 'profits over people' mindset is dangerous during pandemic


TORONTO, April 13, 2020 /CNW/ - Unifor is calling on Chartwell Retirement Homes to immediately rescind the creation of a new job classification in their Long Term Care Homes that requires a minimum public school education to work in their facilities.

"This move is a new low even for Chartwell who has consistently devalued and taken advantage of workers," Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "In a time where we need to be respecting health care workers and treating them like the essential service they are, Chartwell's approach is to ignore the intent and spirit of the directive from the Ontario government and instead use it as a free-for-all to further increase profits at a substantially reduced pay for its workers."

The Ontario government introduced the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act giving hospitals, long-term care and retirement homes the ability to identify staffing priorities, and develop, modify and implement redeployment plans to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Once the order was implemented, the union was advised by Chartwell that the employer is creating a new classification of workers with minimum qualifications or credentials required for applicants who will be providing health care.

"Chartwell is taking advantage of the act and treating it as if the collective agreement is non-existent," said Nancy McMurphy President of Unifor Local 302. "I understand and support the need to ensure adequate staffing levels during this pandemic, but hiring new employees who lack the essential skills needed to prevent the spread of infection is utterly irresponsible." McMurphy said the focus must be on the health and well being of the residents and the union is recommending increasing the hours of all current casual and part-time employees. 

Unifor is not aware of any recent staffing issues at Chartwell and will be raising the concerns related to unqualified hires with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector and represents 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.

Information about the union's response to the pandemic, as well as resources for members can be found at unifor.org/COVID19.

SOURCE Unifor


These press releases may also interest you

at 13:40
The "Global Sports Optics Market: Analysis By Type, By Region Size and Trends with Impact of COVID-19 and Forecast up to 2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global sports optics market value stood at US$2.17 in...

at 13:00
Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Nextdoor Holdings, Inc. f/k/a Khosla Ventures Acquisition Co. II ("Nextdoor" or the...

at 12:27
This year marks the 14th anniversary of the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Its passage was the most significant advancement of health policy since the establishment of Medicare and Medicaid in the 1960s and made healthcare accessible and...

at 12:15
Linc Housing announced that construction is underway on North Harbor...

at 11:30
The "Global Antibody Therapeutic Market: Focus on Format, Disease Area, Route of Administration, End Users, Region, and Competitive Landscape - Analysis and Forecast, 2024-2033" report has been added to  ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global...

at 11:15
The "Europe Power Supply Equipment Market for Water Electrolysis: Focus on Application, Equipment Type, and Country - Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Europe power supply equipment...



News published on and distributed by: