Editor:
Re: “Simons welcomes repeals of ‘contract flipping’ bills,” Nov. 16.
Nicholas Simons is right. Contract flipping is “not good for anybody.” Not the care workers whose wages are slashed, nor, importantly, the people they care for.
My mother currently receives home care from a team of highly caring and committed professionals who work for a company contracted by Vancouver Coastal Health. Earlier this month, it seems their contract was “renegotiated” by VCH.
The result? According to the word on the street, the care aides concerned took a $3/hour cut in pay.
The after effects? Care aides leaving to seek employment elsewhere or forced to take second and third jobs to help pay the bills. All of which makes them unavailable for “extra” shifts or to fill in at the last minute for sick co-workers. All of this in an environment where there already aren’t enough care aides.
The company’s care team members are doing their best to manage the disruptions caused, but service cancellations, shortened service and last-minute schedule changes have understandably become more common.
While my mother has me to help manage her care, others are entirely on their own, with only their care worker to help with medication, personal care, and meals.
VCH negotiators, you may think it’s just about saving money, but the actions you take actually cost this community, with some of our most vulnerable paying the price.
How about we press the “reset” button? A good place to start would be to ensure all the care aides in your employ, directly or not, get the same hourly wage. Look at the multitude of other ways you can save money.
It won’t make things perfect, but it would be a move in the right direction.
J. Ansell Sechelt
