Health care workers at two Coquitlam care homes will not lose their jobs when a new contractor takes over but will need to take a second vote to join the Hospital Employees Union.
This week the union and Fraser Health expressed thanks for over a week of efforts to find a solution to the situation that would have left 150 care workers out of work.
In a press release, Fraser Health announced that the new contractor, Pro Vita Care Management Inc.. will keep the workers employed after it assumes responsibility for Lakeshore on Aug. 8 and for Madison Sept. 12.
Pro Vita will also voluntarily recognize the HEU as the exclusive bargaining agent if employees vote in favor of joining the HEU.
Fraser Health, which funds subsidized beds at the two homes, facilitated the agreement so the workers’ will keep their job.
Lay off notices had been issued to 150 workers, raising concerns among families that seniors living at the facilities would lose caregivers who knew their routines.
The fate of the workers came into question on May 22, when the owner of a company The Care Group contracted to provide care aide and support staff services gave notice that she was retiring and ending her companies later this year. The decision came a few weeks after staff held a vote in favour of union certification under the HEU.
“We would like to thank the excellent care team, residents and families at Lakeshore and The Madison for their patience and support through this process,” said Gavin McIntosh, director of corporate development and administration for The Care Group, in a press release.
Fraser Health board chair Jim Sinclair also thanked the company and the union for coming to an agreement.
“We said we would work with the parties to find a better solution, and that’s exactly what we did. This provides stability that residents need because all employees will be offered a job,” Sinclair stated.
The union is also pleased with the results of the agreement. “This agreement was the right thing to do for health care workers, seniors and their families,” says HEU secretary-business manager Jennifer Whiteside. “We thank everyone involved, especially the Fraser Health Authority and Health Minister Adrian Dix for their instrumental roles in resolving this crisis.”
However, in a separate press release, Whiteside also expressed concern about larger issues to do with contracting out and contract-flipping.
The Care Group operates both private pay and publicly funded residential care beds at the Madison and Lakeshore Care Facilities. Fraser Health contracts 96 residential care beds at Madison and 35 beds at Lakeshore.
A second vote to join the union is required because of the new company taking over the contract, the Tri-City News was told.
