Front-line caregivers, seniors’ and community activists, and union leaders will rally for quality seniors’ care at Willingdon Park Hospital in Burnaby at 11:00 a.m. on May 14 in the wake of layoff notices issued to the facility’s 35 care aides late last month.
Willingdon Park is the first long-term care facility in B.C. to contract out seniors’ personal care. It’s a move that the Hospital Employees’ Union (CUPE) says will put the health and well being of the nursing home’s frail elderly at risk.
The care aides — who are members of HEU — and their supporters will speak out against the contracting out of care staff in long-term care and against the government’s ongoing efforts to push health care privatization at the expense of seniors.
What: Rally in support of Willingdon Park care aides and quality seniors’ care
Who: Chris Allnutt, HEU secretary-business manager, Ben Swankey and Phil Lyons, seniors’ advocates, Front-line caregivers
When: 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14
Where: 4435 Grange Street (@ Willingdon, one block north of Kingsway) in Burnaby
-30- Contact: Margi Blamey, communications officer, 604-785-5324