Union calls for investigation into inadequate resident supplies, understaffing, unpaid staff obligations at Ottawa LTC facility

CUPE is urging the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care to take immediate steps to investigate inadequate resident care supplies, understaffing and nearly $500,000 in unpaid wage obligations owed to front-line staff at Ottawa’s Villa Marconi.

Heightened concern about resident wellbeing as a result of mismanagement at the home is prompting CUPE to take the rare step asking the LTC Ministry to look into what appears to be multiple violations of Ontario’s Long-Term Care Act and the Residents’ Bill of Rights.

Shortages of needed supplies like catheter bags, wound dressings and personal hygiene products such as wash cloths and wipes are so dire, that front-line staff resort to using torn bedding and paper towels on a regular basis. Equipment and devices to lift residents are faulty and staffing levels are critically low.

“The impacts on resident care are substantial,” says CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, OCHU/CUPE, president Michael Hurley. Villa Marconi residents are in our view, not getting near the four hours of direct care that the province mandates under the Act.”

Villa Marconi is a community non-profit with a volunteer board of directors which contracts management of the home to Responsive Health Management, a Toronto-based firm and before that, another private company, Universal Care.

In addition to CUPE concerns over resident personal care, there is a revolving door of staff because the workers’ collective agreement provisions aren’t being followed by the Villa Marconi management team, leading to instances of wage theft where employees are being paid the wrong amounts. Retro wages for several years have not been paid and pension payments are simply not being made. Despite an arbitrator’s award ordering Villa Marconi to pay up, currently the care staff are owed nearly $500,000.

CUPE has engaged all legal avenues available, but Villa Marconi has consistently failed to remedy the situation and comply with the arbitrator’s order. Consequently, morale among staff (members of CUPE 4793) who are owed back pay, vacation sick leave and pension contributions are at all time low.

CUPE’s efforts to work with the employer to rectify issues at the home have been consistent.

“It is unclear what is going on at the management level of Villa Marconi. The Ministry of Long-Term Care must promptly investigate and order changes here that will provide consistent, high-quality care for residents and retain front-line staff,” says Hurley.