Dozens of workers and community members rallied outside of a Dundas retirement home Saturday afternoon, demanding what they consider “decent wages and respect.”
Organizers say the employees at Amica Dundas retirement home haven’t gotten a raise in over two years, and are paid significantly less than other retirement home workers in the area.
That’s in part because they’ve been without a collective agreement since February last year as their union – the Canadian Union of Public Employees – and the home haven’t been able to come to an agreement.
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CUPE Local 1404 President Karen Shimoda says her biggest concern is the standards in retirement homes because they are for-profit.
“It is a serious disadvantage to everyone. We should all really care deeply about that, not only because our loved ones move in and live here, but because the cost they have to pay for those services is incredible, yet the workers make a lower wage than hospital, long-term care workers,” Shimoda says.
Amica Dundas says it values its team members very much and are eager to get back to the table to negotiate for higher wages.