Extendicare workers to protest layoffs

During the last contract negotiations with Extendicare, members reluctantly accepted to take two year wage freezes due to the austerity measures placed on all health care workers.

Since then, the cost of living has risen approximately 4.4 percent.

This has imposed an unfair hardship on these dedicated workers.

These are workers that have been forced to make ends meet with reduced spending power during a time when energy costs alone have skyrocketed to unimaginable levels.

In addition to this, the day talks broke off, Sault Ste. Marie Extendicare Maple View announced substantial layoffs, despite the company’s extensive profitability.

We want to ensure that the priority of Unifor Local 1359 members at Extendicare continues to be the excellent care of our residents.

The reduction of nursing care with feeble pay increases is not the way to accomplish this.

Staffing is already at a critical level to maintain excellent care.

Layoffs at this time will do nothing to help the company’s finances – yet will impact both the amount and the quality of resident care – and this is why we will be demonstrating with an information picket on Thursday, August 21, 2014 in front of Extendicare Maple View at 650 Northern Avenue East from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Please join us to convey a strong message to Extendicare that our workers and residents deserve respect.