Friday, April 5, 2019

ConMed Health Employees Ratify Agreement, Frustrated with Lack of Funding for Long Term Care

Grimsby, Ontario—Employees of Crescent Park Lodge, Millennium Trail Manor, Maple Park Lodge, and Billings Court Manor have ratified a new collective agreement providing them with wage increases and other improvements over the course of the 18-month contract.

The workers are represented by Niagara Health Care and Service Workers Union, CLAC Local 302, where they work in long term care homes located in Burlington, Niagara Falls, and Fort Erie, and owned and operated by ConMed Health Care Group. The 540 employees covered by the agreement include RNs, RPNs, PSWs, therapeutic recreationists, cooks, and dietary aides.

The new agreement provides employees with a 2.1 percent wage increase over the term while RN wages will increase by 2.4 percent. Other improvements include a four-cent per hour increase to the weekend premium as well as an increase to vision benefits coverage.

“Despite deep dissatisfaction, staff at the homes voted 74 percent in favour of the new contract,” says Roberta Vriesema, CLAC representative. “Staff accepted a 2.1 percent pay increase for an 18-month contract knowing that this will do nothing to stop workers from leaving long term care, or addressing the problem of working short and meeting the level of care expected by family members.”

Ontario’s long term care sector continues to struggle with deep staffing challenges due to underfunding.

“We cannot care for our residents who make their homes our workplaces with the present level of funding,” says Chris Boyd, Local 302 president, steward, and member of the union bargaining committee. “The Ontario government must provide more funding for wages and provide legislation that will force private long term care facilities to increase staffing ratios. Only then will we be able to provide the level of care our seniors deserve.”

ConMed Health Employees Ratify Agreement, Frustrated with Lack of Funding for Long Term Care

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