Healthcare workers rally in Mississauga to protest working conditions
Published April 12, 2022 at 12:48 pm
Ontario healthcare workers are gathering in Mississauga today to demand better pay and working conditions from their employers.
The workers, members of SEIU Healthcare, will be protesting at the headquarters of Chartwell, a long-term care home provider and a major employer of frontline workers.
A statement released by the union that represents 60,000 workers across the province, says they are targeting Chartwell because it is one of many long-term care and retirement home corporations that is highly profitable “while paying their frontline workers wages that keep them below the poverty line.”
Chartwell has yet to respond to the protest.
The workers are also calling out the Ontario government for limiting public sector wage increase to 1 per cent restrictions that are outlined in the Pay Equity Act which the unions says discriminates against women working in long-term care homes.
“After over two years of keeping their residents safe and putting themselves and their families at risk, the Ford government and long-term care corporations continue to disrespect and undervalue our long-term care workers, the majority of whom are women,” said SEIU Healthcare President Sharleen Stewart. “Bill 106, which goes to third reading on April 12 – Equal Pay Day – includes a direct attack on the pay equity rights of tens of thousands of working women. It’s disgusting that in 2022, we are still forced to fight against anti-women legislation from our own provincial government.”
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The protest will begin at 3 p.m. at the Chartwell head office on Derrycrest Dr.
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