Laid-off care aides, supporters to rally at 11 a.m. Saturday against privatizing seniors’ personal health care

Willingdon Park care aides — the first health care workers delivering direct patient care to be contracted out in B.C. — are rallying against the privatization of seniors’ care at Burnaby’s Willingdon Park Hospital, June 14 at 11 a.m.

The care aides, who are members of the Hospital Employees’ Union (CUPE), and their supporters, will voice their opposition to this latest threat to public health care and the risks it presents for seniors’ in long-term care facilities.

As evidenced by the 10,000-name petition presented to Burnaby council earlier this week, the campaign to support quality seniors’ care and stop the privatization of direct patient care is gaining momentum and community wide support.

What:      Rally in support of Willingdon Park care aides and quality seniors’ care Who:       Seniors’ advocates Ben Swankey and Jack Nichols, front-line caregivers, and others When:       11 a.m. on Saturday, June 14 Where:       4435 Grange Street                (at Willingdon, one block north of Kingsway) in Burnaby -30- Contact: Mike Old, communications officer, 604-828-6771 (cell)