Today, it was brought to our attention that 4 separate locals have received communications from their employers misrepresenting the bargaining process and providing incorrect information about the wage offer presented at the Lead Table. In some cases, these communications even came with a with a signed letter from Minister Barb Adams.
The circulated memos included a cherry-picked version of the government’s proposed wage adjustments, only including the 3 of 18 classifications which were offered some of the highest adjustments. It did not include the lowest paid classifications or the additional steps that would delay certain wage adjustments.
Circulating misleading information about the employer’s offer is a common tactic among employers, used to undermine our solidarity by sowing confusion and distrust among our fellow workers. This tired tactic shows us one thing: we have power.
This round of bargaining has been long and hard. The government has refused to offer us a fair deal. We proposed high wage adjustments, no wage scale steps, and long service adjustments because that’s what our members need to combat this increased cost of living across this province and the crushing weight of understaffing caused by low wages.
These employers, and by association, Minister Adams, are accusing your bargaining committee of lying to you. They want you to believe that we’ve been hiding their proposal to force a strike, but as you know, that is simply not true. In 3 town halls held on February 9 and 10, Long Term Care Coordinator Tammy Martin showed members the actual bargaining document, including the wage grid presented by Minister Adams in her letter.
What’s the difference between the one we showed you, and the one the employers are circulating now? We included all classifications. We also showed what the real hourly wage would look like. Percentages don’t pay bills, especially not over 4 years; dollars do, so that’s what we showed you. We didn’t cherry-pick, we didn’t hide anything, we went through the entire document section by section.
Several homes receiving similar information on the same day tells us that employers and government are worried we’re going to go on strike and they’re taking a desperate swing at breaking our solidarity. We can’t let that happen. Thousands of long term care workers, for the first time ever, are standing together and fighting for more—and the employers are scrambling.
We must continue our fight, keep pushing for more, and force Minister Adams, Premier Houston, and whoever else thinks a few cents an hour is a good deal, to listen to us.
If your home has received a similar communication, please let your servicing rep and the coordinator know ASAP.
It’s past time long term care had a raise—so let’s run out their clock. Together.