PSWs, your voice needs to be heard.

Premier Ford told reporters at a briefing on Thursday afternoon (October 1st, 2020) that his government will give 147,000 eligible personal support workers a $2-3 an hour raise, beginning today and lasting until March 2021.

He said the premium is both a reward for the work that personal support workers have done already, as well as an acknowledgement of the fact that when it comes to COVID-19 “some of the toughest days lay ahead.”

“As we enter the second wave we need to stabilize our PSW workforce,” Ford said in making the announcement. We need to make sure that when our loved ones need care there is a PSW there to support them and that means retaining our PSWs and getting more into the system.”
Ford also  said that personal support workers “are overworked and underpaid” and deserve all of our “appreciation and respect.”

There are 50,000 PSWs eligible for the pay increase in long-term care facilities, 38,000 in home and community care and another 34,000 in children, community and social services.

While this wage enhancement will help many PSWs - it excludes many as well including those in the retirement home sector and non-public funded home and community care.
It also doesn't take account of the financial toll that many PSWs have already experienced after being limited to one workplace. In the coming days, we will be engaging with the government about this policy and advocating for additional support for ALL PSWs.

Earlier this week, the Ford government announced that it would also invest $10.3 million in providing $5,000 incentives to 2,000 recent graduate to get them to commit to working in long-term care homes for a six-month period.

Add your voice. We will be forwarding all responses and information collected here to The Premier's office, Minister Elliott, and Minister Fullerton.
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