Thursday, February 10, 2022 CLAC Is Speaking up for You As a CLAC member, you give us feedback on conditions in your workplace in a variety of ways. One of the things we do with what you say is turn it into a government submission Newsletters Ontario Healthcare Sectors Healthcare Most recently, we submitted our 2022 prebudget submission to the Ontario government asking it to make improvements to working conditions in healthcare. One particular demand has risen to the top as being central to solving many of our healthcare woes. We are asking the government to address the staffing crisis in healthcare by funding a significant wage increase and making a commitment to keep wages from falling behind again. The law of supply and demand says that when there is a shortage of something in an open market, the price will go up until the demand is met. But, after more than a decade of underfunding the healthcare sector, and because of low wage awards from interest arbitration panels (as an essential service, healthcare workers rely on abirritation to get results when collective bargaining fails), the wages for most healthcare workers have been suppressed and have failed to keep up with the ever-increasing cost of living. To achieve balance in the labour market, wages must increase to attract and retain future workers. So far, the government has not been listening to this message very well. Prior to the pandemic, the government enacted Bill 124 into legislation, which kept wage increases to one percent per year for three years for hospitals and not-for-profit long term care homes. CLAC reacted strongly and loudly to Bill 124. For nearly the last year, the province has been paying PSWs and DSWs a temporary $3 per hour wage premium (or $2 per hour in the hospital sector) as consideration for pandemic work conditions. More recently, a $5,000 retention bonus was announced for RNs, RPNs, and nurse practitioners. But these aren’t long term solutions. We have taken your need for a wage increase to Queens Park by way of our annual budget submission, which also opens the door for us to speak to government leaders about the significance of this need. We spoke to some of them on February 14, and let them know how much a wage increase is needed. The Impacts of the Staffing Crisis Long Term Care In long term care, staffing shortages mean rushed care. If everything can’t be done because there aren’t enough staff, less urgent things like repositioning may be forgotten in the rush, and residents may not receive care right when they need it. Fewer repositionings and an inability to respond to toileting calls in time result in things like bed sores and falls, both of which can lead to permanent injury or death. Low staffing also correlates with increased violence against staff and other residents and results in declining health. Homecare Meanwhile, a staffing crisis in homecare means over a third of the people who need homecare can’t get it. This is a deeply problematic issue that has recently developed, and the impact hasn’t been measured. But we will soon see the impact on hospitals and other parts of the healthcare system as these clients deteriorate. Not to mention the tragic consequences for those who cannot receive care. Hospitals More frequent hospital admissions from long term care and homecare patients without a caregiver add a lot to the strain on the healthcare system, which is already overwhelmed. You might be interested in Why We Work Safely 5 Jun 2026 Standing Your Ground, and Staying Steady on the Job 4 Jun 2026 CLAC Partners with Alberta Government to Advance Skilled Trades Training and Accelerate Certification 4 Jun 2026 Strathcona Mechanical Workers Ratify New Agreement Providing Wage, Scheduling Improvements 3 Jun 2026