Over 1,000 members of the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) working in long-term care ratified a collective agreement with Good Samaritan Canada on Friday, Nov. 24, a news release sent out Tuesday says.
The agreement draws years of negotiations to a close which will affect some people in ߣÄÌÉçÇøas there are about 278 HEU members in ߣÄÌÉçÇøbetween the ߣÄÌÉçÇøGeneral Hospital and Hilltop House.
“For the past few years, Good Samaritan—like many other contracted long-term care providers across the province—has struggled with fully staffing their facilities,” said HEU secretary-business manager, Meena Brisard, in a news release. “The renewed contracting out protections, improved benefits and enhanced shift differentials in this new five-year deal together offer a good step forward when it comes to retaining skilled, longtime staff and recruiting new workers to look after the 900-plus residents in Good Samaritan’s care.”
According to the news release, workers at seven Good Samaritan Canada sites did not have a contract for over three years. After two years of negotiations, a strike vote and one day of job action, HEU’s bargaining committee reached a deal on Nov. 24, which was voted on by members between Nov. 16 and 24.
“Good Samaritan Canada has agreed to maintain their staff wage levels at the same rates that workers in publicly-run long-term care facilities receive, should there be any changes to annual provincial wage top-up subsidies to for-profit and non-profit care home operators,” said Brisard in the release. “This assurance that wages will be maintained at the same level as found in the publicly-operated care homes offers much-needed economic security for Good Samaritan workers, particularly in these uncertain times of mounting household costs.”
The deal in place will expire on March 31, 2025.
“With this agreement in place at Good Samaritan, HEU will continue its focus on reducing staff turnover and providing a higher standard of working and caring conditions that care home residents and care home workers deserve,” said Brisard.
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