January 6

In January, we took action and filed a human rights complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario against Responsive Group’s Rykka Care Centres. Members at Rykka Care Centres were discriminated against because they are women of colour. We will continue to support exploited healthcare workers, predominantly women and people of colour, and help them fight the discriminatory and exploitive for-profit long-term care system.

January 7

Sienna’s St. George Care Community experienced one of the biggest COVID-19 outbreaks in Ontario. 156 residents tested positive, 10 died and there were 59 cases among frontline staff members. We held an Appreciation Rally outside of St. George Care Community to let the staff and residents know they were not alone in their fight. Member of Provincial Parliament Jessica Bell, representing the riding of University—Rosedale, joined us for the rally.

January 8

Concerned family members of residents at Copernicus Lodge Long-Term Care and Tender Nursing Home organized a rally at Copernicus Lodge. SEIU Healthcare members joined the rally to show their frustration regarding understaffing, lack of funding, and lack of adequate support for staff and residents during the pandemic.

January 12

Once again, we were devastated by another loss of a fellow sister. To honour Maureen, we held a Memorial and Appreciation Car Rally in Mississauga. While we remembered Maureen, we also showed our support to all the frontline healthcare workers who are still doing everything they can to help fight COVID-19.

April 6

Frontline workers at Michael Garron Hospital in Patient Respirology (unit H7) and Internal Medicine (unit B2) had several colleagues leave their healthcare profession due to poor management decisions during the pandemic. To show the hospital that enough was enough, they launched their own Respect Us Scrub Cap Campaign from April 6 to April 9, 2021.

June 29

SEIU Healthcare and County of Lambton paramedics are fighting for more ambulance service and more paramedics for Sarnia and the County of Lambton. We have met with Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley and Lambton County Councillors many times about the lack of service. In February, we sent a letter demanding 12 more hours of ambulance coverage per day in Sarnia. When that letter went ignored, we took our demands to the media to put pressure on the County of Lambton, who has now hired a third party to assess the situation. If this critical issue is not addressed in early 2022, we are prepared to launch a public campaign to raise further awareness and create more pressure. We will not stop until our members get the support they need to keep the public safe.