THUNDER BAY - The union representing workers at two retirement homes in Thunder Bay say members are earning a poverty wage and management needs to show that it cares for its staff and its residents.
“It’s an important message,” said Suzanne Pulice, vice president of Unifor Local 229, which represents workers at Chartwell Retirement Residences on Isabella Street and Hilldale Road.
“We care about the people that are living in these facilities and making sure they receive the proper care they require. The members that are working here, we would like to see them to have some stability as well.”
An information picket was held outside the residences on Sunday during an open house at the facilities on Isabella Street and Hilldale Road. Chartwell operates retirement residences in seven locations across the province.
The contract between Chartwell and support workers expired last fall and bargaining is ongoing, but Pulice said talks are at a standstill.
“One of the issues has to do with when the minimum wage was increased in January 2018, the employer doesn’t want to give those individuals an increase now that we are into bargaining,” she said. “They want them to stay at that rate for a couple of years.”
All staff earning minimum wage would have their wages frozen until 2020 and Pulice said the workers now are receiving a poverty wage, which impacts their lives, and the lives of the residents.
“We are not asking for lots, not lots of money,” she said. “People that live here are paying anywhere from $4,000 a month upwards. They are paying good money and they deserve to have the care that they require.”
The low wages is also results in problems with recruitment and retention of staff at the facilities.
“They are going to go somewhere else for a better wage,” Pulice said. “We are thinking of the tenants as well, they need to have the care they deserve, considering they are paying good money to live in these places.”
Talks are ongoing and Pulice said workers are hopeful that there will be some movement.
According to Unifor, the Ontario Labour Relations Board denies the workers the right to strike, as they are considered essential service providers.
Management at local Chartwell residences did not provide a comment.
