‘All home care workers should be paid the same’
Dear Editor:
This letter is being written to call out an injustice that was knowingly carried out by the Honorable John Hogan, the new premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, about a policy that continues to undermine our healthcare system and must not be ignored.
John Hogan’s recent promise (when he was Health Minister) to increase the hourly wages for homecare workers from $17.05 to $21.05 over the next five years, was only given to “agency based” homecare workers, and not those working privately. This is despite the fact that both groups are paid through Eastern Health, are expected to perform the same duties, and sometimes even support the very same clients.
John Hogan was quoted in a CBC News article written on November 15th, stating:
“It is a well-deserved wage increase for the dedicated home support workers in our province. And we hope that it will encourage anyone interested in joining this field to pursue their rewarding career.”
Despite the deceptively positive tone of this message, it felt like a slap in the face to private homecare and respite workers across the province. Then on April 1st, like some kind of cruel joke, minimum wage and the wages of “agency based” home care workers were both significantly increased, while there was no change to the wages of private home care and respite workers in our province.
For context, minimum wage workers currently receive $16 per hour, while private homecare and respite workers receive $17.05 per hour. Agency based homecare workers receive $19.45 per hour.
Beyond just the $2.40 per hour difference in wages, benefits like sick pay and paid holidays are also distributed inequitably between the two groups, and further show the lack of support and respect for both those providing care in our province, and those being cared for.
I implore you to take action and voice your concerns to those in power. Because homecare workers are not only the front line of our healthcare system in the homes of those in our province, but also individuals who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
Sincerely,
Sarah King
St. John’s
I think that private homecare workers should get the same wages as agency homecare workers for the same work, goverment should fix this sooner than later!
I am a home support worker who has been with my client 9 years. I love my work, I love my client but the time has come for me to explore other options. Minimum wage is now 16.35 in Newfoundland. I am being paid 17.05 for a job with in lots of cases more responsibility. I administer meds, I inject insulin, I bathe and wipe my clients behind. I can go to work at a restaurant and have less stress and with tips easily supplement my Tiny wage discrepancy. In the western health district there is a lot of rumbling of support workers considering just that.
My question is: What will you do with these now workerless clients that you claim you want to keep at home? Do you have space in facilities to place them right away? They cannot wait days or weeks they need care. Do you have workers you can put in place? I know in my district they are crying for workers. People aren’t applying for the reason of wages and responsibility.
Please do the right thing, be fair. We are asking for fair wages that is it. We are not even getting cost of living raises when minimum wage goes up. There are so many disgruntled workers in my area you are soon going to find a crisis a hand. Please do the right thing.
Cynthia Porter
Western Health District, NL