Government gives over and above the regular pay packet to attract and keep nurses, doctors and other health professionals in our province, but support staff say they equally deserve retention incentives.
CUPE members throughout Newfoundland and Labrador have presented petitions to every MHA, including Premier Andrew Furey, demanding that government take their concerns seriously and meet with them.
CUPE President Sherry Hillier, an LPN by profession, says she sees first-hand how pivotal support and service staff are to the running of our hospitals and other health care facilities.
Melissa Osmond, a housekeeper working at the Corner Brook Long-term Care Centre in Corner Brook, says people cannot support themselves on so little. The sole provider of two special needs children, Osmond says she shouldn’t have to make decisions between groceries and paying her bills, but she is.
Support and service staff say a hospital can’t help patients if the floors aren’t clean and the linens aren’t washed.