Front line caregivers at York Region’s long-term care (LTC) and alternative community living (ACL) facilities, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), will hold rallies on Thursday, April 12, in Newmarket to highlight the negative impact of proposed cuts in hours and staff by York Council that will hurt seniors and assisted residents in municipal homes.
“Layoffs, cutbacks in hours, and increased workload for the remaining staff are not the recipe for improving quality of care for residents in municipal homes,” said Doug Sheppard, CUPE 905 spokesperson. “Our members, along with residents’ families, will be rallying to demand York Councillors stop these cuts that will have a negative impact on clients who are vulnerable and need more care, not less.”
Who? Front line workers from York Region’s LTC and ACL facilities supporters and community members
What? ‘Stop the Cuts in York Region Homes’ rally
When? Thursday, April 12, 2012, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Where? Newmarket Health Centre, 194 Eagle Street, Newmarket, Ontario
Proposed cuts by York Council include layoffs of housekeepers and dietary team leads, hours of work cuts for personal support workers, some from 60 hours to 30 hours a week, and extra duties added to elderly service workers with no additional time to perform the additional duties. These proposed cuts will impact residents living in Newmarket Health Centre, Maple Health Centre, Armitage Gardens, Breedon Manor, Cedarcrest Manor, Genesis Place, Hadley Grange, Heritage East and Keswick Gardens.
CUPE 905 represents 400 front line workers who provide housekeeping, laundry, dietary, cooking, facility maintenance, personal support, administration and nursing services to residents at York Region’s two LTC and seven ACL facilities. In addition to the rallies on Thursday, CUPE 905 members will also hold a rally at Maple Health Centre, 10424 Keele Street, in Maple on Sunday, April 15, between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
For further information, please contact:
Doug Sheppard, CUPE 905 Spokesperson 905-830-4444 ext. 4901
John Cromwell, CUPE National Representative 705-722-7387
James Chai, CUPE Communications 416-292-3999