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Care aides, LPNs and activity aides latest victims of provincial government’s Bill 29, says HEU

For the second time in less than a month, a Lower Mainland seniors’ facility is using the provisions of the B.C. Liberals’ contract-breaking legislation to lay off nursing team staff in preparation for contracting out.

The final day of work for 59 care aides, activity aides and licensed practical nurses at the Lakeshore Care Centre is July 28. Many of the care staff have worked at Lakeshore for more than 20 years. Housekeeping, dietary and laundry staff lost their jobs last year.

Lakeshore will contract out personal care, including the bathing, toileting and feeding of frail seniors, to an outside contractor.

“These long-serving care staff are like family to the seniors they look after,” says HEU secretary-business manager Chris Allnutt. “Now these residents’ most personal care requirements will be performed by an outside agency that could send in a different employee every day.”

Last month, a Burnaby care facility gave notice to 35 care aides whose last day of work is June 27.

The B.C. Care Providers Association, which represents many publicly subsidized long-term care facilities, held a workshop earlier this week to explore issues around the contracting out of care staff. Lakeshore’s administrator, Lynn Aarvold, was one of the presenters at the workshop entitled “Contracting Out - Pit Falls, Profits and Perception.”

“It’s becoming increasingly clear that no part of the health care system is safe from this government’s privatization plans - including direct patient care,” says Allnutt.

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Contact:
Mike Old, communications officer, 604-828-6771 (cell)