12/16/09—Nursing Home Workers Reject OPSEU
Owen Sound, ON—Employees of Mapleview Nursing Home soundly rejected an attempt by OPSEU to represent them in a vote held at the home recently. Support for staying with CLAC Health Care and Service Workers, Local 304, was overwhelming.
“Mapleview employees have received strong, responsive representation from Local 304 for the past 13 years,” says Ken Dam, CLAC Ontario representative. “We are thrilled with their continued support and look forward to beginning a new round of bargaining in the new year.”
Many of the employees at the home were disappointed with the manner in which OPSEU conducted its campaign. “They lied to employees, made false promises, and conducted secret meetings,” says Rose Lapointe, a registered nurse at Mapleview. “We prefer to stick with CLAC, which conducts itself with integrity and openness. They’ve been there for us whenever we needed them.”
Long term employees recall the strength of the union when the facility was first organized. “CLAC was there for us then, and we are pleased that they are still with us now,” says Michelle Livingstone, a personal support worker who has been with Mapleview for many years, back when the facility was called Lutheran Nursing Home.