The fight for vacation time continues for unionized staff at Riverview Gardens, Chatham-Kent’s municipally-run long-term care facility.
Due to low staffing numbers, Unifor Local 127 members have been denied vacation time for several years.
Chair Becky Kitchen says it’s a very frustrating situation.
“For members and for residents I’m sure, and probably management as well,” Kitchen says. “We’re hoping to sit down again and have an open and honest discussion on Wednesday and hopefully come to a positive result.”
Municipal officials say the shortage of personal support workers is an issue being felt at facilities across the province, not just in Chatham-Kent.
“There has been a decline in the number of students entering PSW programs and that, coupled with normal turnover, has left us with fewer workers than we would like to have,” explains Chief Human Resources Officer Cathy Hoffman. “We are currently working in partnership with Chatham-Kent’s Employment and Social Services, Riverview Gardens and the Workforce Planning Board on a study to examine this issue and generate sustainable solutions for the sector.”
