Home care is more than 'babysitting,' says worker who feels ignored by union in negotiations

A home-care support worker says her union isn't doing enough to support those in her sector despite members rallying for months for better wages, health benefits and pension plan.

For months, Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees locals 9211 in Clarenville and 4217 in Bonavista have been rallying for a better deal in ongoing negotiations, but Colleen Park of Clarenville says it hasn't resulted in meaningful outcomes for workers.

"We deserve so much more respect from our union and the government and to be recognized for what we do. Because right now we are at the bottom of this pay scale," Park told CBC News.

Home-care workers make $17.05 an hour, she says, and are looking to see it increase to $23 and also want the job to become a public sector position.

Home-care work encapsulates a lot of different roles, said Park, such as insulin injections and colostomy care, as well as wound dressings, bathing, cleaning and mobility assistance.

Park said NAPE has categorized them as doing little more than "babysitting, so to speak, and playing cards — we do a whole lot more."

"We do palliative care for people who's doing cancer treatments. We hold their hand on their last days. I mean, it's so much more than what the public eye actually sees," Park said.

While NAPE is negotiating a new collective agreement, Park doesn't think the union is advocating for her and her colleagues at the table.

"Basically, NAPE has allowed for the team leaders and the agencies to be in full control," said Park.

If home-care workers went on strike, said Park, the health-care system would crash because it relies on the work they do.

"We are the foundation of health care for our clients and for those who work in the home-care sector."

NAPE calls for patience

NAPE president Jerry Earle said negotiating is a complex, multiparty process, and home-care workers from Clarenville and Bonavista are seated at the table.

The recent collective agreement expired March 31. While five months without an agreement can seem long, he said, it can sometimes take a year or 18 months for a new agreement to be settled.

"We will eventually get there. It is going to be extremely difficult but it's … complex bargaining," said Earle.

Earle said there have already been victories, like an agreement for a group insurance plan. NAPE has negotiated a classification plan, too, he says.

"We will strike a joint committee that will implement the classification plan that will recognize the different degrees of home care," he said.

Like Park, Earle said he would also like to see home-care workers become public sector employees, but that isn't something determined at the bargaining table.

"I believe it's possible if there is a government — current or future — that is prepared to do that. But it is governments that make that decision," said Earle.

Earle said he hopes negotiating teams will be back at the table soon.

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