May 2020

The for-profit long-term care corporation confirmed it had no plan to deal with the coronavirus and spent a mere $300,000 of its own money on COVID-19

Since the Ontario government announced their Pandemic Pay at the end of April, we have been in constant discussions with them regarding positions that were excluded, including MDRD, hospital ward and unit clerks, clerical staff, and recreational staff/activity coordinators.

When we first started our Appreciation Rallies in April, the Durham Region was the first area we visited. On Thursday, May 28, we will be back in Pickering and Ajax to carry on our support and show our membership that will are still here for them during this very stressful and uncertain time.

On Thursday, May 28, SEIU Healthcare will be bringing our purple power to Cambridge. The Appreciation Rallies that we have organized all over Ontario have boosted the spirits of our membership and has shown employers and the government that SEIU Healthcare stands together with our members on the frontlines.

RICHMOND HILL, ON, May 26 – The following is a statement from Sharleen Stewart, president of SEIU Healthcare, the union that represents over 60,000 frontline healthcare workers in Ontario:

Hundreds of vehicles have joined our Appreciation Rallies all over Ontario. We invite you to join us in London and Oshawa to be a part of this powerful movement

SEIU Healthcare continues our Appreciation Rallies in Barrie! We invite you to join us this Saturday, May 23, as we continue to support our membership, honour all frontline workers working tirelessly to protect Ontario, and remember all those who have passed during this pandemic.

Since the Ontario government announced it was going to provide pandemic pay to frontline healthcare workers, SEIU Healthcare has been leading the discussions with the government to ensure all healthcare workers, including clerical, ward clerks, MDRD, and others, are included.

COVID-19 has affected the entire world so a multitude of ways. We have seen firsthand how it has affected our membership, the public, and our health system.

SEIU Healthcare continues to support our membership by having another Appreciation Car Rally in Orillia. Please join us as we honour our brave frontline healthcare workers, remember all those who have passed, and celebrate the end of Nursing Week 2020.

On April 16, 2020, I wrote to you requesting that your provincial government use its existing authority in the Long-Term Care Homes Act to take over administrative and operational control of the crisis by putting problematic facilities in trusteeship.

SEIU Healthcare has organized numerous appreciation car rallies all over Ontario, we will continue showing our support by visiting units in the Collingwood area.