December 4, 2020
Hon. Doug Ford, MPP
Premier of Ontario
Premier’s Office – Room 281
Legislative Building, Queen’s Park
Toronto, ON M7A 1A1
RE: Vaccines and Pandemic Pay for all healthcare workers.
Dear Premier Ford
It’s time to re-instate Pandemic Pay for all healthcare workers.
As we learn more about safe vaccination roll-out plans, governments are rightly identifying essential workers in the healthcare system as priority recipients of approved COVID-19 vaccines. This is because we recognize the essential nature of their work in the care for our most vulnerable.
Every vaccination given to healthcare workers should come with a permanent wage boost. All members of the health team deserve economy security just as they deserve physical security.
Imagine the signal it could send to healthcare workers-whom we desperately need to retain and recruit-that they’re not only essential, but also valued.
SEIU Healthcare is singularly focused on keeping our members secure in this pandemic.
Already low staffing levels made worse by COVI D-19 pose real risks to essential workers who should be focused on the delivery of care. Instead those dangerous working conditions make that work harder, while also increasing stress, anxiety, and threats of workplace injury.
Your government could help alleviate those risks and keep healthcare workers secure by boosting wages and staffing levels at the same time. The two contribute to the same outcome: more healthcare workers providing safer care in a pandemic.
Inaction will only drive more workers out of the system.
Our union will continue to advocate fiercely for all healthcare workers.
We believe re-introducing Pandemic Pay for all including for all those excluded from the payments earlier this year-in conjunction with the forthcoming vaccines, will serve the healthcare system and the public at the same time.
I remain available to discuss this proposal with you at your earliest convenience.
In solidary with the 60,000 women and men of our union,
Sharleen Stewart, President
SEIU Healthcare