Seeking better workplace protections from the ravages of COVID-19, all the Home Support Workers at The Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care residences in Toronto have voted overwhelmingly in favour of joining OPSEU/SEFPO.
“Home Support Workers like our newest members have proven themselves time and again as some of the most heroic people on the front lines of the pandemic,” said OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “While they selflessly risk their own health and safety, they deserve employers that will do everything possible to protect them.
“And there’s no better way to get those protections for yourself and the people you care for than by joining a strong union like ours.”
With the guaranteed workplace voice that is now guaranteed by belonging to OPSEU/SEFPO, the new members will now be able to address problems such as the employer’s reluctance to replace workers who’ve called in sick, leaving those still working with unsustainable and even dangerously high workloads.
Helping care for seniors at four residences owned by the non-profit Yee Hong Centre, the workers provide high-quality and culturally appropriate services to seniors, many of whom are Chinese.
“OPSEU/SEFPO recently commemorated the beginning of the Year of the Ox. The ox is a symbol of hard work, duty, and reliability. You can count on our union to embody those values,” said OPSEU/SEFPO First Vice-President/Treasurer Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida. “On behalf of the entire Executive Board and all 170,000 of our members, I’d like to say: 欢迎加入我们的工会大家庭 – welcome to our union family!
“We’re all stronger now that you’re standing with us.”