MEDIA ADVISORY: Iler Lodge staff protesting against employer Revera after three consecutive periods of missing pay

Event Information

Begins: 25 Aug 2021 @ 1:45 PM
Location: Essex, ON

ESSEX, ON –/COMMUNITYWIRE/– Iler Lodge employees are rising against multi-million-dollar corporation Revera after weeks of unpaid salaries and misleading promises by the employer. For a third consecutive pay period, members of CUPE Local 1370 have been missing pay off their checks, some of which are very significant amounts. Moreover, some PSWs aren’t receiving the pandemic wage enhancement granted by the provincial government in recognition of their work for the past 18 months.

Disappointed by the blunt lack of respect, members of CUPE Local 1370 are protesting during their lunch breaks today, August 25, 2021, from 1:45 p.m., in front of the Iler Lodge facility located at 111 Iler Ave. in Essex.

Since July, the long-term care home staff has worked for free, on top of challenging conditions due to the pandemic. Despite collective agreement provisions and union representatives’ efforts, the employer has not kept his promise and refused to pay the amounts owed to employees by August 24 at the latest, including pandemic pay enhancements. This happens one day after the Ontario government extended the temporary wage increase for personal support workers until October 31, 2021.

“Many workers are still living without their full wages, even though the employer knows about it and said they would be paid by the beginning of the week. Revera’s total lack of respect for front-line staff, which ensured the residents were safe and cared for, is disgusting. Revera is a multi-million-dollar private company, and they can’t even pay their staff what is legally theirs. We don’t work for free. It has been several pay periods, and visibly the company doesn’t want to rectify the issue.” says Dorothy Metcalfe, president of CUPE Local 1370.

While thousands of front-line workers are still missing for the long-term care sector, CUPE strongly opposes the trend of corporate interests lacking respect, driving down wages and working conditions, without valuing the work accomplished by front-line workers. They should be recognized not only by receiving their regular salaries and pandemic dues; CUPE calls for a permanent provincial wage enhancement for all healthcare workers who are risking their lives daily taking care of residents and patients.

WHO:       Dorothy Metcalfe, president of CUPE Local 1370, will rally with long-term care home staff

WHERE:  111 Iler Ave., Essex, Ontario

WHEN:     Wednesday, August 25, 2021, from 1:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

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For more information, please contact:

Aline Patcheva, CUPE Communications, 416-885-7382, apatcheva@cupe.ca