PARKSVILLE — Disgruntled employees and even a few sympathetic residents staged a rally outside the Stanford Seniors Village care home in Parksville on Monday.
John Demedeiros, chief steward of the Hospital Employees Union at the village, claimed facility operator Retirement Concepts shortchanges unionized staff on overtime hours, vacation time and also collect interest on their pension plan.
“They (staff) are tired of working short-staffed, they’re looking for other places to go,” he said. “This company is continuing to put profits ahead of patient care.”
Demedeiros said the facility faces huge challenges finding and keeping staff. He said non-competitive wages and low staff morale negatively impact their workers and the 180 complex care residents.
“You can’t have continuity in care if you don’t have continuity in staff and when residents see new faces on a daily basis and care is being missed, that breaks our hearts.”
About 25 employees and a few residents spent the Monday lunch-hour rallying outside the massive Craig St. care complex.