SEIU Healthcare
125 Mural Street L4B 1M4 Richmond Hill, ON, Canada

Visit Broken Hearts, Empty Shoes on their Instagram or Facebook page on November 19, 2020 (tomorrow) between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to pay tribute to all those we have lost in the long-term care sector. To show your support, you can also leave a pair of shoes outside your door and take a picture to share it on your social media with the hashtags: #Canadians4LTCStandards and #CanadiensExigentNormesSLD You can tag their Instagram account "canadians4ltcstandards" on the post:... https://www.instagram.com/canadians4ltcstandards/ Check out their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/384540406000778 See more

In wave 2, right now, there are no homes with critical staffing levels because we’re getting them the help that they need including the PPE, Ontario’s Minister of Long-Term Care Merrilee Fullerton said on October 28. The PSW was blunt when asked about her assurances: Lies. ... They go on camera every day and it’s lies, lies, lies. SEIU Healthcare President Sharleen Stewart said Fullerton has been absolutely misleading the province, which is very sad.

Did you know Developmental Service Workers (DSW) and workers in residential care facilities don't have WSIB coverage? Last year, along with our amazing DSW Committee, we met with the WSIB panel and presented our suggestions. Earlier this month, they issued their recommendations. Recommendation #7 states:... The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the government should extend mandatory coverage to developmental support workers and those working in residential care facilities. Click the link below to send a letter to your MPP and make recommendation #7 a reality!

Do you know what a Medical Device Reprocessing Technician is? The Ford government clearly didn't, as MDR workers were left off the province's initial Pandemic Pay list this past spring. Read Tanya Hogan's story to learn more about the important work MDR technicians do. https://seiuhealthcare.ca/tanya-hogan/

Every day as a paramedic, Corinne Kershaw faces the unknown, so when Coronavirus emerged, she knew change was on the way. Corinne also feared for the safety of her family. In the height of the pandemic, she stayed in their basement. It was difficult to explain why isolation was important during this time to her 3-year-old and 6-year-old children. Click below to read Corinne's story.... #FordForgotMe #Healthcarehero

LAST CALL TO ENTER OUR HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST! Did we tell you that we have iPads for the winners!? Contest categories are: ... 1. Best healthcare-related costume 2. Scariest costume 3. Most original costume Enter here: https://www.cognitoforms.com//HalloweenPhotoContestSubmiss Entries are due at 11:59pm on Monday, October 26. Here are just a few of the great entries we've received so far. We may have also included a photo from the archives of our Secretary-Treasurer, Tyler Downey! We also remind those who didn't register for our SEIU Healthcare Family Digital Halloween Party to watch the live-stream of the event right here on October 30 at 6pm. If you like this page in advance, you will get a notification when it begins. #SEIUHalloween

Out of 7,857 total cases among long-term care residents in Ontario, 2,115 have died about 61 per cent of COVID-19-related deaths in the province. These stories just continue to break my heart and turn my stomach, said Sharleen Stewart, who represents more than 60,000 workers in Ontario as president of the SEIU Healthcare union. Stewart said long-term care homes like Revera’s should be run like hospitals to make them accountable to residents. Revera is effectively a real estate corporation masquerading as a resident-care company, she said, with a business model beneficial to investors but not seniors.

Our first of eight regional membership meetings is tonight, starting with Region 8 - Algonquin. Find out when your meeting is and RSVP by visiting https://seiuhealthcare.ca/regionalmeetings Each meeting will be hosted by your regional executive board member and will be full of important information and even a few giveaways. We hope to see you there!

The hospital had just pleaded guilty two days prior to two of nine charges laid against it by the ministry in another case of workplace violence against to staff. The hospital was ordered to pay $80,000. And now we have another worker traumatized and having to deal with mental health issues, too, said SEIU Healthcare President Sharleen Stewart. What’s it going to take? Are we going to wait until I have to speak with a member’s family about a death?

While it is deeply regretful that we’ve had to endure the worst healthcare crisis in a generation to finally generate cross-partisan consensus to act, today marks an important turning point in the conversation about how to provide adequate care for our most vulnerable residents. READ MORE: https://seiuhealthcare.ca/seiu-healthcare-celebrates-ontar/

Karl Penney is a proud cook and SEIU Healthcare member at Chartwell Empress Kanata. Karl loves everything about his job, and when COVID-19 hit Ontario, he didn’t think it would impact his workplace or his profession. Unfortunately, reality set in when his daughter Tiffany tested positive for COVID-19. #HealthcareHero #FordForgotMe

The continued violence happening at Southlake Regional Hospital is sickening, heartbreaking and alarming, and it is clear that whatever actions they have taken since the horrendous incidents last January have not been enough. We are demanding Southlake hold an emergency meeting with us to ensure the protection of our frontline healthcare workers. https://seiuhealthcare.ca/immediate-action-needed-after-an/

Despite the province's promise to address the staffing shortages at long-term care homes, the majority of jobs for personal support workers, who were asked to choose one job to prevent staff from spreading the virus, remain part-time, SEIU Healthcare President Sharleen Stewart told the commission. "They still to this day are not providing full-time work to those workers who had to choose one job, so we're in a worse condition than we were back in January."

SEIU Healthcare held a rally Wednesday at The Village at University Gates, a long-term care home run by Schlegel Villages in Waterloo. The staff at the home have been without a contract for more than 18 months, and remain underpaid, which has led to understaffing and burnout; putting the health and safety of both residents and staff at risk. Members and staff joined together to wave flags, chant and honk their car horns to raise awareness of the problems they are facing, whi...le letting the employer know that they will not tolerate this any longer. To see all of the photos from yesterday's rally, please visit: https://www.flickr.com//72157716571292937/with/50516679102/

November 20, 2020, is Transgender Day of Remembrance. It is a day we pay tribute to the trans, two-spirited, and non-binary people whose lives have been taken away too early due to transphobic violence. When we take transphobia head-on, we make our workplaces safer for everyone. Larry Kobos, SEIU Healthcare Executive Board Member, LGBTQ2+ Seat, is committed to addressing, educating, and eliminating violence and harassment in the workplace once and for all. https://seiuhealthcare.ca/transgender-day-of-remembrance/

SEIU Healthcare Digital Halloween Party on Facebook Live!

SEIU Healthcare is calling on all members of the Legislative Assembly to unanimously send Bill 13, The Time to Care Act, to third reading for expedited passage into law. "The hardworking staff in our long-term care system and the families with loved ones in those facilities have waited long enough for higher safety and quality standards." https://seiuhealthcare.ca/seiu-healthcare-response-to-seco/

Our SEIU Healthcare Family Digital Halloween Party is just 9 days away! It's been so great to see your children's excited faces as they receive their loot bags for the event. For those who didn't register before the deadline, we will be live-streaming the event on our Facebook page, so make sure to join us right here on October 30 at 6pm. If you like this page in advance, you will get a notification when it begins. Also, our children's Halloween costume contest is open to all... our member's children, not just those registered for the event. To submit your photos, visit https://www.cognitoforms.com//HalloweenPhotoContestSubmiss Contest categories are: 1. Best healthcare-related costume 2. Scariest costume 3. Most original costume Contest entries are due Monday, October 26 at 11:59p.m. and winners will be voted on and announced during the live-stream on October 30 #SEIUHalloween

SEIU Healthcare, CUPE Ontario and Unifor are hosting a press conference calling on the government to pass the Time to Care Act.

Take action to end anti-indigenous racism and violence in the Canadian Health System! In light of the recent tragic deaths of two Indigenous community members in Quebec, both while hospitalized under the care of healthcare providers, Health Providers Against Poverty (HPAP) have created an open letter to send to the leaders of various health institutions in our province. Joyce Echaquan and Georges-Herve Awashish were targets of racist and discriminatory comments and action...s by their hospital care teams. The long and persisting history of anti-Indigenous racism and violence in our health system must stop. Please take a moment to read the full statement in the link below, and then sign and share this letter to stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities across our country, and to commit to the actions that have been laid out to end anti-Indigenous racism in our health system once and for all. https://forms.gle/s6fnvP7Yvq3M5ZqY6

SEIU Healthcare is rallying at Southlake Regional Hospital today to demand immediate action to keep our members safe. Last week, one of our RPN members was attacked by a patient at the hospital, suffering severe wrist injuries. This came less than a week after another violent incident, as well as the hospital being fined $80,000 in connection to an assault in the emergency department last year. Members and staff are joining together to tell Southlake that ENOUGH is ENOUGH. Our members deserve a working environment that is free from violence.

The hospital had just pleaded guilty two days prior to two of nine charges laid against it by the ministry in another case of workplace violence against to staff. The hospital was ordered to pay $80,000. And now we have another worker traumatized and having to deal with mental health issues, too, said SEIU Healthcare President Sharleen Stewart. What’s it going to take? Are we going to wait until I have to speak with a member’s family about a death?

CALLING ALL HEALTHCARE ADVOCATES! If you haven't already, please take action and tell Doug Ford to create an increased universal wage for RPNs in all sectors. It takes just 30 seconds to join us - and the over 2000 people who have already sent a letter - as we make changes to unify the nursing profession. https://seiunurses.ca/take-action-for-rpns/... Be sure to like and share this post as well!

Continuing our commitment to ensure equity, inclusivity, and diversity in our union, the SEIU Healthcare management team participated in several transformational, engaging and informative workshops this week led by the Asian Canadian Labour Alliance, CBTU Ontario, Canada and the Toronto & York Region Labour Council. Led by one of the most diverse union leadership teams and executive boards in Canada, we remain forever committed in our efforts to ensure diversity, inclusiveness, and racial justice.

October is a significant month for women. We celebrate Women's History Month and look back at all the incredible girls and women who contributed to creating a more inclusive Canada. We also draw our attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month and join the fight to create a world without the second leading cause of cancer death among women. We must continue to show up for women, support them in any ways we can, and always stand up for their rights, especially during this pande...mic. It is essential for us to continue to push for more women in leadership roles, create more support groups for girls, and work towards achieving gender equality. Female empowerment will ultimately be beneficial for everyone. This year's theme is #BecauseOfYou, which highlights all the girls and women who have contributed to making lasting impressions in their communities. During October, we encourage you to use the hashtag and share your own stories of how strong girls and women have made a difference to you. Here is an important message from our Women's Seat on our Executive Board, Gloria Turney:

Take action to end anti-indigenous racism and violence in the Canadian Health System! In light of the recent tragic deaths of two Indigenous community members in Quebec, both while hospitalized under the care of healthcare providers, Health Providers Against Poverty (HPAP) have created an open letter to send to the leaders of various health institutions in our province. Joyce Echaquan and Georges-Herve Awashish were targets of racist and discriminatory comments and action...s by their hospital care teams. The long and persisting history of anti-Indigenous racism and violence in our health system must stop. Please take a moment to read the full statement in the link below, and then sign and share this letter to stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities across our country, and to commit to the actions that have been laid out to end anti-Indigenous racism in our health system once and for all. https://forms.gle/s6fnvP7Yvq3M5ZqY6

While there has been more transparency around outbreaks in settings like nursing homes and hospitals, the WSIB data is the first comprehensive glimpse at another vital but lower-profile part of the health-care system: home care. That sector makes up a smaller proportion of overall claims, but registered more cases than grocery stores and the hospitality sector. SEIU Healthcare president Sharleen Stewart, who represents 60,000 front-line workers in Ontario, said the sector was disregarded in the initial COVID-19 response. With the pandemic, they were going into homes and not knowing for sure if there was an infected person in that home.

Take action and tell Doug Ford to create an increased universal wage for RPNs in all sectors and join us as we make changes to unify the nursing profession. It takes just 30 seconds to attach your name to this letter! https://seiunurses.ca/take-action-for-rpns/

SEIU Healthcare, OCHU/CUPE, and Unifor recently sued the government to force them to increase the protections for workers. To resolve this court action, the government agreed to make changes to Directive 5. These changes mean that hospitals and long-term care homes will have to give workers clearer access to better protections when they are dealing with patients or residents who may have COVID-19.

On Monday evening's Telephone Town Hall, SEIU Healthcare President Sharleen Stewart stated that just like when the Ford government announced Pandemic Pay, last week's $2-$3 PSW wage enhancement is only a half-plan. A real plan would have given ALL underpaid healthcare heroes a permanent wage increase with full-time jobs and benefits. SEIU Healthcare knows how hard every single person on the health team works, and that’s why all healthcare workers deserve a permanent wage incr...ease and a full-time job. Please take 30 seconds to sign our petition and add your voice to ours in demanding immediate action for all healthcare workers. https://www.cognitoforms.com/SEIUHealthcar/TownHallPetition