Kawartha Heights Retirement Living employees join the Union
January 29, 2021
After a month-long organizing campaign, the employees at Kawartha Heights Retirement Living can celebrate their victory as they become members of UFCW Local 175.
Approximately 40 full and part-time healthcare workers at the home can now begin the process of bargaining their first collective agreement. Job classifications at Kawartha Heights Retirement Living include:
- Dietary Aides,
- Resident Assistants,
- Personal Support Workers (PSWs),
- Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs),
- Reception, and;
- Housekeeping.
While the relatively new home is currently at about 72% capacity, once full the total bargaining unit should be comprised of more than 50 employees.
Currently, the majority of employees at the facility are women and most are classified as part-time. Through collective bargaining, the new Union members hope to achieve:
- More jobs classified as full-time;
- Better benefits for all employees, and;
- More paid sick days.
Other concerns brought forth by the employees include job security and favouritism.
Having limited paid sick days means workers in healthcare often have to come to work ill to avoid causing a situation where the workplace is understaffed. As a result, these workers are often overworked and exhausted. Further, this causes burnout and a high turnover rate of employees at many healthcare facilities. Read more about the Union’s stance on frontline workers and support, especially during COVID-19.
UFCW Local 175 welcomes these newest members at Kawartha Heights Retirement to the Union’s Health, Office, and Professional Employees (HOPE) Sector.
Welcome to Your Union.
UFCW Local 175 represents about 6,000 healthcare workers in long-term care and retirement care, home care settings, plus first responders, and youth, community and addiction services.
Find out why Health Care workers benefit from belonging to our Union!
Read more stories of workers who celebrated organizing victories and joined UFCW Local 175!
Want to find out more about joining UFCW Local 175? See some of the benefits of voting Union Yes!