Worth Fighting For

When I started with CLAC almost 39 years ago, I was working in construction. After I was hired, for some strange reason, I ended up representing healthcare workers. I soon came to care deeply about the injustices that plague the healthcare system and the people who work in the field will always be close to my heart. 

Over the years, I did front-line representation in many facilities and witnessed the ever-worsening conditions that healthcare workers were asked to work under. We did study after study, which always ended up saying the same thing—namely, that if the system is going to improve, it needs to increase the number of front-line caregivers and improve their training and support. I spent many of those years arguing arbitrations for many of you, even though we were clearly working with an arbitration system that was broken. Arbitrators often lacked the courage to break the mould, but a few did make courageous decisions that improved wages and working conditions and gave hope to healthcare workers. 

We’ve had some significant successes, such as starting the first pension plan for long term care workers in 1984, with the industry finally following suit in 1988. We also had the first signed pay equity plan for long term care in 1994. As provincial director for the past 11 years, I have been heavily involved with lobbying the government for continued change, but the volume of residents is increasing—and their needs are increasing. This is an ongoing crisis that must be addressed. 

The fight for justice in healthcare will go on. I recently stepped down from my role as Ontario director because I’m getting ready to retire. Ian DeWaard from the Cambridge Member Centre has taken my place, and I know he will continue this fight. 

CLAC is so much larger, more capable, and knowledgeable than when I started, and I look forward to the great things that lie ahead. It will not be easy, but anything worth fighting for never is. I wish you all the best. In the time remaining and in my retirement, I will still be there fighting for the best and most caring people in our world—our members.