Private long-term care facility workers launch strike
About 3,000 workers on strike in 42 different senior residences across Quebec
The largest strike to hit private long-term care homes across Quebec starts today.
For the first time ever, more than 3,000 workers will hold rotating walkouts in favour of better working conditions. This will affect 42 private long-term care homes in the province.
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The strike is also meant to put pressure on employers to raise wages to $15 per hour.
"These people take care of our elders," Danielle Legault of the SQEES-FTQ said. "They make sure that our mother, father, grandmother are well taken care of. So those people do deserve a living wage."
Seniors attendants as well as kitchen and laundry staff are required to provide essential services but they will hold walkouts for 45 minutes during eight-hour shifts.
During the strike, only one meal option will be available to residents in the long-term care facilities. Workers will also refrain from mopping floors and making beds.
Negotiations between the union and their employers will continue over the next few weeks.