By Zaid NoorsumarPart 1 of our Special Investigation into OPSWA PSWs have always fought and struggled for dignity and respect and to improve care and working conditions. In December 2013, Ontario PSWs struck for these reasons against Red Cross/Care Partners, a very large home care operator. The PSWs were members of SEIU Healthcare, one of Continue readingJustice for PSWs and OPSWA “betrayal”
Ontario
Articles The Justice for PSWs strike and OPSWA “betrayal” OPSWA and its corporate friends Time to care? OPSWA’s inconsistency on LTC care standards OPSWA, self-regulation and the Ontario PC Party Does OPSWA really represent 49,000 members? OPSWA’s governance structure: A family affair? Blocked: OPSWA and its critics OPSWA’s social media misinformation Introducing the investigation The Continue readingThe Ontario PSW Association: A Special Investigation
The new spokesperson for the health minister recently worked as a lobbyist for long-term care corporations
She reached out for support to build a union. And only CLAC gave a helping hand. Have you read Part One of this story? By Zaid Noorsumar Laura Borden* was determined to form a union at ParaMed’s Oshawa branch. The working conditions had deteriorated after ParaMed, owned by Extendicare, had restructured and expanded its government-funded Continue readingInside and outside a home care union drive
Conditions in home care were getting worse. One PSW decided to organize a union. By Zaid Noorsumar The drive north from Oshawa to Haliburton County in Central Ontario takes two hours. There were times when Laura Borden* would travel that distance to meet her co-workers – and end up sitting alone at Tim Horton’s. “Sometimes Continue readingShe wanted a union
By Zaid Noorsumar Robin Nelson’s 79-year old mother has endured more than four months of isolation during the pandemic in a long-term care home in Lakefield, Ontario. Ann Nelson, who has suffered three strokes, has intensive care needs. Even before the pandemic, Robin says the resident-to-staff ratio wasn’t sufficient to provide the level of care Continue readingOntario’s nursing homes continue to face critical staffing challenges
A one per cent budget increase could pay for appropriate staffing in long-term care homes By Zaid Noorsumar A new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives demonstrates how the fiscal policies of successive Ontario governments have led to immense pain and hardship for long-term care residents, their families and the workforce. For decades, Continue readingOntario’s fiscal policies have wrecked long-term care
By Zaid Noorsumar The Ontario PC government of Premier Doug Ford has rejected the Official Opposition’s call to remove profits from the province’s home care sector. During the standing committee meetings for Bill 175 on Monday and Tuesday, the government struck down all of the amendments proposed by the opposition parties. The NDP proposed 19 Continue readingFord government defeats amendment to remove profits from home care
By Zaid Noorsumar When she first began working as a home and community care nurse twenty years ago, Anne* had a regular 40-hours a week schedule. Today, Anne is working between 12 and 14-hour days at least three times a week and every other weekend. “I see 12 to 14 patients a day and am Continue readingPrivatization, two-tiered home care, and the burden on women
By Zaid Noorsumar Ontario’s new home and community care legislation will likely become law by the end of the month with virtually no public consultation, even as it impacts over 700,000 annual care recipients who require personal support services, nursing care, physiotherapy and other services. Instead of addressing the myriad problems that have plagued the Continue reading“We need a public, not-for-profit home care system”
By Zaid Noorsumar Premier Doug Ford and his PC government are moving ahead with their new home and community care legislation. According to the Ontario Health Coalition, the legislation will further enable privatization of home care and remove the existing provisions of public control and accountability. The legislation was being pushed through the Ontario legislature Continue readingFord government moving ahead with home care privatization bill
By Zaid Noorsumar Last month, Rankandfile.ca exposed extensive connections between Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives and the for-profit lobbying group, the Ontario Long-Term Care Association (OLTCA). Amidst growing public anger against the for-profit long-term care homes, a recent Huffington Post news report further highlights the ugly nexus between the for-profit long-term care industry, the Ford Continue readingOntario PCs aren’t alone: Exposing Liberal ties with corporate long-term care lobby