Show your solidarity with Personal Support Workers on PSW Day

Since 2010, May 19th has been provincially recognized as Personal Support Worker (PSW) day in Ontario. It is a day to recognize the PSW profession and honour the vital role PSWs play on the health care delivery team.OPSEU/SEFPO is proud to represent thousands of PSWs in our long-term care homes, retirement homes, developmental services, community, home care and hospitals, who go above and beyond every day for the people they care for.When the pandemic first hit, despite great personal risk to their own health, PSWs rose to the challenge to support Ontario’s sick and vulnerable residents. Now, three years after the start of the pandemic, PSWs workplace health and safety continues to be at risk because of chronic short staffing and working double shifts.Many PSWs have left the profession due to the mental, emotional and physical strain and there is a serious PSW shortage. Recruitment and retention of PSWs has reached a crisis point in our healthcare system.PSWs represented by OPSEU/SEFPO are fighting alongside their fellow healthcare workers for better wages, increased staffing, and an end to the Ford government’s health care privatization scheme.

Here are three ways you can take action in solidarity:

Take action online: tell your MPP and the Ford government to Keep Health Care Public!

Enter your name and contact info on the online form, and we’ll send an email in your name to your MPP, the Premier and Health Minister telling them to keep health care public!

Vote in the OHC referendum to stop hospital privatization – May 26-27

The OHC is holding a mass citizen-run referendum, with the goal of collecting a million votes across the province to stop the privatization of public hospitals.Health Coalitions are organizing voting stations outside grocery stores, local corner stores, coffee shops, at Legions and community centres and in every busy part of our communities that they can. More than a thousand voting stations will be open across Ontario, workplace votes will take place, and online voting will be available on the website publichospitalvote.caVote NO to hospital privatization!

Join the Enough is Enough Day of Action – June 3

Keeping health care public is a key demand of the Enough is Enough campaign. Join other workers and allies in your community – and thousands more across Ontario – on June 3. Find an action near you or help organize one!