While the Ontario Government is implementing wage increases for Personal Support Workers (PSWs) in Long Term Care and Community Care sector and in hospitals, all other essential frontline health care workers have been arbitrarily excluded.
"Today's announcement is problematic in many ways, and shows just how out of touch Doug Ford is with the health care sector. We stressed to the government that PSWs [Personal Support Workers] work as part of a team and excluding some members of the team is insulting and divisive, as is excluding retirement home workers who have seen devastating and tragic COVID-19 outbreaks.” - Katha Fortier, Assistant to Unifor National President and lead Unifor health care negotiator.
The Ontario Government will immediately implement a $3.00 wage increases for Personal Support Workers (PSWs) in Long Term Care and Community Care sector which could extend till March 2021. PSWs in hospitals will receive a $2.00 per hour increase.
All other essential frontline health care workers have been arbitrarily excluded, as have personal support workers in the retirement home sector.
"Personal support workers absolutely deserve this recognition, but so do the other health care workers who show up every single day. It takes a team of workers like cleaners who stop the spread of disease, dietary workers who ensure proper nutrition, rehabilitation workers who keep people mobile, nurses and countless others who contribute to the care and wellbeing of patients and residents. Considering that many of these workers have had to self-isolate for weeks to protect their families, unable to see their own children, and today they are being told they are ineligible for the temporary wage enhancement." - Unifor President Jerry Dias. "
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