Wait for care workers’ promised pandemic pay unfair, union says
Extra $4 per hour meant to support 350,000 eligible front-line staff
The union representing a number of employees at long-term-care facilities say many members have yet to receive their extra pandemic pay announced by the provincial government in April.
The government announced April 25 they would be providing a temporary pandemic pay of $4 an hour as well as a monthly lump sum payment of $250 to eligible front-line workers who work more than 100 hours a month.
Eligible workers include those at municipal, private and not-for-profit long-term-care homes.
Paula Randazzo, president of the Healthcare, Office and Professional Employees’ Union (HOPE), said members at a number of private sites, including Chippawa Creek at Bella Care Residence in Niagara Falls, have yet to see any extra cash added to their paycheques.
“I get asked every day by somebody about this money and every day, unfortunately, my answer is the same,” she said.
“Although the for-profit organizations can afford to pay out the money and wait for the government to reimburse them, they’re making the em
ployees wait.”
A personal support worker at Chippawa Creek is disappointed she and co-workers have to wait for their pandemic pay, while colleagues at other facilities are already receiving the top-up.
“Every single person in our building has given their blood, sweat and tears for our job, not just now, but always and we felt unappreciated,” said the PSW, who did not want to be identified.
“We always feel we have to fight for what we deserve, and it gets exhausting.”
Randazzo agreed, saying it is unfair that some operators are holding off until the government distributes the funds first.
“The corporations that own these facilities are not mom and pop shops,” she said. “Certainly, they can afford to pay this money, particularly knowing the government is going to reimburse them.”
Randazzo said HOPE members, which include clinical and support staff such as PSWs, housekeeping and kitchen staff, deserve the extra pay.
“These employees are on the front lines, risking their health and risking the health of their families,” she said.
The PSW at Chippawa Creek, meanwhile, said staff have been putting in long hours in recent months and are committed to giving “200 per cent” in support of the residents.
“We wear our masks our entire shift, and working doubles mean that we have it on for 16 hours,” she said. “We have sores behind our ears, breathing problems, rashes, yet we all show up every day because we love our residents and our team.”
Ian West, vice-president of operations at Park Place Seniors Living, which operates more than 30 residences including Chippawa Creek, said the operator is awaiting further information from the Ministry of Long-Term Care, and details on its direct funding agreement, before adding the temporary top-up to wages.
He said policy guidelines are expected to be made available in early June.
“Eligible staff will receive pandemic pay as soon as the ministry has communicated the detailed policy and has released the funding,” West said in an email.
The pandemic pay is expected to support more than 350,000 employees on the front lines of COVID-19.
While members will, at some point, receive pandemic pay, Randazzo is disappointed the provincial government has failed to acknowledge such workers remain “grossly underpaid.”