(October 8, 2020)<\/p>\n
By: Ken Mann, Global News<\/p>\n
A union that represents staff in long-term care homes has participated in a \u201cday of action.\u201d<\/p>\n
CUPE Ontario is stepping up its call for better pay for personal support workers, increased staffing in long-term care homes and an end to the privatization of long-term care beds.<\/p>\n
Union president Fred Hahn also says it\u2019s past time for approval of an NDP private member\u2019s bill that would legislate a minimum standard of hands-on care for each long-term care resident in the province of at least four hours each day.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been advocating for 15 years, by God, it should be the law of the land,\u201d said Hahn.<\/p>\n
CUPE Ontario participated in a series of more than 20 rallies across the province, organized by the Ontario Health Coalition as part of its \u201cday of action,\u201d including a \u201ccar caravan\u201d at Hamilton\u2019s Gore Park.<\/p>\n
In voicing the union\u2019s call for an end to the privatization of new long-term care beds, Hahn asked, \u201cDo we really want to live in a country where we make money on our parents and our grandparents?\u201d<\/p>\n
According to CUPE, almost 2,000 residents and staff have died as a result of\u00a0COVID-19\u00a0in Ontario\u2019s long-term care homes since the start of the pandemic.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Hahn says staff have had to fight for access to appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and have worked in \u201ccrisis-level staffing shortages.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the province\u2019s most devastating outbreaks, taking the lives of 16 residents, was at The Rossyln Retirement Residence in Hamilton\u2019s east end.<\/p>\n
The Rosslyn had its licence revoked by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) in mid-June.<\/p>\n