On May 28, 2020, the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) along with 100 organizations – including UFCW Locals 175 & 633 – and individuals representing more than 1.5 million Ontarians sent an open letter to Premier Doug Ford.
In the letter, the OHC seeks assurances regarding the announced commission into Long-Term Care (LTC) homes in the province, and puts forth immediate measures that must happen now and cannot wait for the results of a commission.
UFCW Locals 175 & 633 has long been an advocate for health care workers and has lobbied the government extensively to improve the LTC system for many years.
There must be immediate and direct action to fix LTC in Ontario. This includes:
- a fully independent public inquiry into the entire system; and,
- a coherent plan from the government to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our LTC and retirement homes.
Premier Ford must address the chronic under-staffing of these homes. He must act to improve compensation and increase the number of full-time positions available.
Measures to improve both staff and resident health and safety must be enacted; this includes a minimum care standard of four hours per resident per day. In fact, the #TimeToCare campaign began more than two years ago.
Other measures must include infection control, ensuring proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all staff, and COVID-19/virus testing and tracing.
You can read the OHC’s open letter to Premier Ford on their web site. Even better, copy and paste it into an email and send a copy to the Premier yourself, too.
Let Doug Ford know that Ontarians want and deserve a Long-Term Care system that provides dignity and proper care for our loved ones, and a safe and healthy work environment for all of our health care workers. Read the letter & send a copy to Premier Ford.
Below, check out a celebration of the Nurses and Personal Support Workers (PSWs) of UFCW Locals 175 & 633 we featured for Nurses Week and PSW Day this year.
