STEPHENVILLE CROSSING, N.L. — FRANK GALE
THE WESTERN STAR
STEPHENVILLE CROSSING, N.L. — Dave Clothier believes the amount of mandated work at the Bay St. George Long Term Care Centre in Stephenville Crossing could be illegal and puts people’s lives in danger.
The Codroy Valley man, whose wife Madonna is on protective care at the facility, said CUPE members including licensed practical nurses and personal care attendants on staff at the seniors’ complex are right on the mark with their work protest Thursday.
“The word that’s stuck in my craw is mandatory,” Clothier said.
He said at the long-term care centre, staff work a regular 12-hour shift and often are mandated another four to six hours.
Clothier said for some living up to an hour away, they basically have six hours at home before heading back for their next shift.
“I think it's illegal to put someone on the road after a 16-hour shift and not even have a place for them to rest at the home (care centre),” he said.
Clothier said the demand by the employees for more trained workers is only right.
“Some of these people are stressed to the limit,” he said.
Mayor Lisa Lucas of Stephenville Crossing, who came out in support of the workers, said it was sad to see the issue reach protest level.
She said her daughter is proud to be an LPN graduate and is looking forward to the job. However, Lucas has a gut feeling she’s going to be doing a lot of babysitting for her daughter.
“There’s no way you can be prepared for doing another six hours of work after doing a 12-hour shift. You can’t give the right level of care if you’re not at your best,” Lucas said.
Sherry Hillier, president of CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador, said the workers have no disrespect for Western Health but were out protesting to pressure the government to offer an LPN course at College of the North Atlantic in Stephenville.
She said recruitment and retention is a problem at seniors’ homes right across the province, but Bay St. George Long Term Care Centre is the worst she’s heard of when to comes to mandated work.
Hillier said if government gave the go ahead, a course could be started in Stephenville as early as January of 2020. She said instructors are in the area and she’s sure the students would be, too.
“They (students) would love to train in the area and stay working in the area,” she said.
[email protected]
