Workers at seven long-term care homes in B.C. B次元官网网址� including four in the Okanagan-Shuswap B次元官网网址� have sent a strong strike mandate to their employer, Good Samaritan Canada.
The Hospital EmployeesB次元官网网址� Union (HEU) members voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action to back their bargaining demands for a new contract with Good Sam. The members have been without an agreement for three years.
The seven Good Samaritan Canada sites include Heron Grove in Vernon, Pioneer Village and Hillside Lodge in Salmon Arm and Village By The Station in Penticton.
The other three sites are Victoria Heights in New Westminster, Delta View in Delta and Christenson Village in Gibsons.
B次元官网网址淭his strong vote for strike action by over 1,100 HEU members who work for Good Samaritan Canada sends a clear message that seniorsB次元官网网址� care workers demand job security, respect, and fair compensation,B次元官网网址� said HEU secretary-business manager Meena Brisard.
B次元官网网址淗EU members rejected Good SamaritanB次元官网网址檚 demand for the right to contract out work and the employerB次元官网网址檚 unwillingness to increase any form of compensation in this time of spiraling household costs.
B次元官网网址淲e have a staffing crisis in health care right now, and Good SamaritanB次元官网网址檚 push for the right to contract work out sends the wrong signal about the need for stable, permanent jobs in long-term care.B次元官网网址�
In addition to their contracting out demand, the HEU said Good Samaritan also refuses to negotiate even modest improvements in benefits and other compensation measures B次元官网网址� even though the last monetary increase it gave its workers was in 2019. Since then, any boost in financial compensation for Good Samaritan employees has come solely through the B.C. governmentB次元官网网址檚 wage-levelling program.
B次元官网网址淟ike every other British Columbian, our members are facing rising costs for their families,B次元官网网址� said Brisard. B次元官网网址淭his employer is being asked to make reasonable monetary improvements to benefits, shift premiums and other items that better protect membersB次元官网网址� pay cheques against inflation.B次元官网网址�
Good Samaritan Canada employs HEU members as care aides, dietary workers, housekeepers, registered nurses, activity aides and several other jobs. Members from all seven sites took part in two weeks of balloting, which wrapped up July 21.
Black Press has reached out to Good Samaritan Canada for comment.
The HEU is B.C.B次元官网网址檚 largest health care union with more than 60,000 members across the province.
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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