Some retirement home workers in LaSalle are demanding a return to the bargaining table and decent wages.
The workers, members of Unifor Local 2458, staged an information picket Monday afternoon outside of Chartwell Oak Park Retirement Home in LaSalle.
The 57 workers are without a contract and union president Bruce Dickie says the wage increases offered by the company, will bring some workers to just the minimum wage. "The workers deserve better," says Dickie. "This is a retirement home with health care workers doing high stress work, heavy work."
Workers at Chartwell Oak Park in LaSalle hold an information picket April 23, 2018 (Courtesy of Unifor Local 2458 Twitter)
Dickie says workers aren't asking for a lot. "It has already been one year without a contract. What we want is just a fair collective agreement, we have reached agreements with most of the retirement homes that we represent within Unifor and we don't see any reason why this company can't come to the table and reach an agreement as well."
Workers recently voted 100% in favour of strike action to back contract demands.
Dickie says the home and industry as a whole, is having a difficult time in recruiting and retaining workers because they are paid so poorly given their workload.
To make matters worse, Dickie says the company went to the Ontario Labour Relations Board to get a designation that would prevent the workers from striking under the 'Hospital Labour Dispute Arbitration Act.'