The group home workers at LutherCare Communities Group Homes are prepared to take job action if their demands are not met by their employer. The workers have been without a collective agreement since April 2022 and are fighting for higher wages, the introduction of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and two consecutive days off each week.
Barbara Cape, president of SEIU-West, stated that the strike vote from members was overwhelmingly in favor, highlighting the need for respect, fairness, and a living wage for the workers. She emphasized that everyone deserves a weekend, even if it’s not the traditional Saturday and Sunday.
The union pointed out that full-time staff are currently working seven days a week to make up for shorter shifts, leading to burnout and exhaustion. Cape stressed the importance of giving employees two days off in a row to recuperate from the demands of their intense and hands-on job.
Furthermore, the union criticized the employer for offering the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a holiday to out-of-scope managers but not to the frontline staff working in the group homes. The workers have stated that they will not fully withdraw their services during the job action to minimize the impact on LutherCare residents.
Non-medical transportation will be one of the first services affected by the job action, with the possibility of escalating to include the removal of other services. Global News reached out to LutherCare for a comment on the situation.