Wednesday, February 12th, 2025

Several front line employees of Leisureworld Creedan Valley staged an information picket line Tuesday to spread the word about staffing changes scheduled to take place on September 13 at the extended care facility.

On that date, Creedan Valley’s Restorative Care Program will be cancelled, and the seven staff members who deliver that service will be reassigned to other jobs within the facility. In addition, there are plans to cut four Personal Support Worker positions, with those people also moving to other roles.

The Restorative Care Program is a fairly rare one among nursing homes, and according to the picketing workers it is Creedan Valley’s “jewel in the crown,” a service that attracts many families to the facility. The program aims to help restore residents’ independence and self-esteem, through avenues like exercise, physiotherapy and foot care.

“It is baffling to us that management would cut off our signature program,” said Jodi Hawthorne, a Creedan Valley staff member and president of CUPE local 3114.
While no jobs are set to be lost when the changes come into effect, it’s the position of CUPE that residents of the facility will suffer from the loss of the Restorative Care Program. Employees in that program are also frequently called upon to cover other areas when the facility is short-staffed, an option that will no longer be available according to Hawthorne.

“Our workload continues to increase with not enough time in the day to perform all duties,” she said. “The home is understaffed because of retention problems due mainly to workload and lack of regular full-time positions. We have offered management different solutions to resolve some of the challenges, but they have not been receptive to our input.”

Leisureworld regional vice-president Diane Green and vice-president of human resources Josephine Deslauriers were in town Tuesday to take part in celebrations to mark Creedan Valley’s 40th anniversary, which were taking place at the same time as the picket line. When asked about the employee’s concerns, they promised that the organizational changes would not result in any decrease in services for residents.

“Restorative Care is not being eliminated, it is just going to be delivered through a new model,” said Green. Leisureworld is now contracting out physiotherapy services, and the other aspects of the program – daily walking exercise and personal grooming among them – will now be taken care of on a one-on-one basis by Personal Support Workers.

That method is the new standard model of care that’s being funded by the Ontario government, said Green, and Leisureworld is in the process of switching over all of its facilities to reflect that.

“This is an example of change putting people on edge,” said Deslauriers. “We are absolutely committed to maintaining the level of safe, quality care that our residents are accustomed to.”

Because workers at long-term care facilities are considered providers of essential services under the province’s Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act, the Creedan Valley employees are prohibited from staging an actual strike. Hawthorne did say that if management doesn’t change its plans, another information picket line can be expected before the September 13 date.

Such a move would have the support of administration – “They are within their rights to do what they’re doing,” said Deslauriers – but both representatives of Leisureworld said it was unlikely the company’s plans would change at this point.

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