'Residents are dying alone,' nursing home workers ask for wage increase to help staffing crisis
During a virtual news conference on Monday, the union representing workers in many of New Brunswick's nursing homes is urging premier Blaine Higgs to fix the current "staffing crisis" in nursing homes across the province.
The union is asking that the premier immediately increase their pay by $4 an hour. Sharon Teare, the president of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions, which represents 51 of 70 nursing homes in the province, says several locations across the province have been operating with 50 per cent of their staff or less, which doesn't allow them to prioritize those in their care.
"Now, we're at a point where retention and recruitment are crippling the sector and it can no longer function," said Teare.
She said many staff members are working double or triple shifts, while some are showing up to work while injured.
According to Teare, the current average wage of a CUPE member working in a senior's home in the province is $21.50.
CUPE New Brunswick communications representative Simon Oullette said "members, workers are already voting with their feet, retiring early, having to go on sick leave because of burn out, or leaving the field completely."
During Monday's news conference, workers spoke about how these issues not only affect them but also the vulnerable people in their care.
"What happens? Those residents who are dying alone that are in palliative care because they do not have the hands to ensure palliative measures are applied. And that's not OK. Residents are not getting their breakfasts because of being short-staffed."
The Department of Social Development responded to CTV's request for a comment from the premier saying it takes the concerns raised by the N.B. Council of Nursing Home Unions very seriously and that the department is working with its partners including " Department of Health, and the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, to look at potential solutions.
"This is one of the reasons government provided a $15-million increase to its annual budget to expand the hours of care to 3.3 hours by April 2022."
In its statement, the department also said: "as per the six-year bargaining agreement, formally adopted in May 2019, a 5.5 per cent wage increase was agreed upon over a four-year term – most of it retroactive – for employees."
But Teare believes the change has to happen soon. Due to extreme staffing shortages residents are not getting their breakfasts and are not always able to get bathed once a week, she said.
"Residents have the right to at least have a bath once a week, not every two weeks."
Without change or an increase in wages, workers say they are scared for what's to come.
"The cost of doing nothing is much greater than the cost of fixing the problem," said Oulette.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.