Red Cross Care Partners (RCCP) workers across the county joined about 4,500 workers province-wide in walking off the job to protest what they feel are low wages and substandard remuneration for travel costs.
On Dec. 16 approximately 15 RCCP workers gathered outside the CCAS Integrated Assisted Living Office in Palmerston as part of a legal strike action.
Others from Fergus and throughout Wellington County, have been picketing in Guelph.
The striking workers are part of the Waterloo Wellington Red Cross Care Partners and work in conjunction with the Integrated Assisted Living Program. This group is comprised of homecare workers and personal support workers (PSW).
The employees officially went on strike province wide on Dec. 11. They have been without a contract since March 31, and have rejected contracts that would see workers receiving a two cent increase in mileage rates, up from 34 cents per kilometre.
Monja Hjort, a PSW from Fergus, notes that since 2008 the government-recommended rate has been 52 cents.
PSW Scotney Hope of Palmerston said “on average we travel 600 to 800km per week, with travel time being non-billable. This means that we can be asked to drive to a location over 60km away for a two-hour service and only receive payment for the two hours. If we go over our allotted kilometres we face an in-house audit.”
PSW Carling Dick said, “We paid thousands of dollars to get our certification and diploma just so we can work for near minimum wage.”
Workers, who currently receive about $15 per hour, estimate the latest contract offer would increase their hourly wage by 11 cents each year
over the life of a four-year contract.
Hjort said workers doing comparable jobs in nursing homes are paid more than $20 per hour, while PSWs from other agencies who work through CAS are paid between $16 and $17 per hour.
“We want more money and we want more remuneration for driving,” said Hjort, noting that working in a rural area means PSWs spend more unpaid time on the road than their urban counterparts.
“I can easily be away from home for 12 to 13 and a half hours putting in an eight-hour day,” Hjort points out.
Linda Horbatuik, a PSW from Arthur, says the personal support workers provide exactly the type of services needed to achieve one of the province’s stated goal for seniors.
“We are trying to help people stay in their homes and that’s where the government says it is putting its money, but we’re not seeing it,” says Horbatuik.
Marlene Toner of Palmerston, a certified PSW, stessed that although wages are an issue, the workers’ main focus is on the quality of care for their clients.
“We are asking the government to recognize us as an essential service. Essential Service designation means we cannot strike, which may seem contradictory but by becoming an essential service we as the front line to health care providers can ensure that our clients will be able to have uninterrupted service.”
Toner was also disappointed by the reaction of the Red Cross Care Partners.
“When they discovered we were picketing in Palmerston, OPP were dispatched … As you can see we have a peaceful demonstration.”
When asked about the claims of PSWs, Red Cross spokesperson Tanya Elliott said, “There is a lot of misinformation out there, unfortunately.”
She told the Advertiser she could not comment on specific details of PSW contracts, but stated, “We do offer a competitive wage.” She noted RCCP reached a memorandum of settlement with the SEIU Healthcare union last month, but that agreement was not ratified by union members.
While Elliott is hopeful an agreement can be reached quickly, she stressed Red Cross is also very concerned about those served by homecare workers and PSWs.
“Right now our entire focus is on the health and safety of our clients,” Elliott said on Dec. 16.
She explained Red Cross officials are working hard to ensure alternative care arrangements are in place for its most vulnerable clients, including agreements with area Community Care Access Centres (Waterloo Wellington CCAC spokesman Colin Carmichael did not return an Advertiser call by press time).
Elliot added there is nothing definitive set in terms of discussions with union representatives.
“There are no dates set at the moment, but the lines of communication remain open,” she said.
-With files from Chris Daponte and Wilma Mol
