Care homes hit by 150 layoffs

COQUITLAM — A union rallied on Sunday to call on B.C.’s health minister and the Fraser Health Authority to stop layoffs at two long-term care homes in Coquitlam.

The Hospital Employees’ Union said about 150 staff were told they would lose their jobs at the Lakeshore and Madison care centres, which have both publicly funded and private beds and house nearly 200 seniors.

The union said the owner is switching contractors, resulting in the layoffs of care aides, licensed practical nurses, activity workers, housekeepers and food service workers.

But owner The Care Group said the contractor has decided to retire from her business, and her employees were given layoff notices as a result.

The Care Group said it’s in the process of a selecting a new contractor, and existing staff have been encouraged to apply for jobs with the new company. It expects most of the employees will accept employment with the new contractor and the suggestion that 150 employees will lose their jobs is misleading, it said.

The Hospital Employees’ Union also alleges in early May, more 100 staff at the care homes voted to join the union, and three weeks later they received layoff notices.

Fifty housekeeping and dietary workers who were in the middle of an organizing drive at the facilities were also laid off, the union said.