The frontline community health professionals working at St. Joseph’s Hospice Sarnia Lambton have voted overwhelmingly to join OPSEU.
“This is great news,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “It’s great news for these workers. It’s great news for OPSEU. And most of all, it’s great news for the people in the Sarnia area who depend on the quality services our newest members provide.
“Frontline workers are the real experts in public services. When they join a union like OPSEU, they gain a real voice in the workplace and the services inevitably get better.”
OPSEU First Vice-President/Treasurer Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida said that by joining OPSEU, these new members have joined a powerful movement against Doug Ford’s destructive policies.
“This is the worst provincial government we’ve seen for a generation,” said Almeida. “But there’s strength in numbers, and OPSEU’s numbers are growing larger every day.”
The new OPSEU members at St. Joseph’s work as Registered Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses, Personal Support Workers, and housekeepers.
“On behalf of all of OPSEU’s community health care workers across the province, I’d like to say congratulations and welcome to the family,” said Lucy Morton, Chair of OPSEU’s Community Health Care Professionals Sector, whose own local includes RNs, RPNs, support staff and PSWs.
“When we work together, we win together. We win for ourselves, for our families, and for the people who depend on the services we provide.”