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Inglewood care aides face layoffs End to contractor’s agreement shocks unionized workers
JANE SEYD jseyd@nsnews.com
More than 230 health care workers at West Vancouver’s Inglewood Care Home will face potential layoffs this
spring after the company subcontracted to provide staff announced it will end its agreement with the facility’s owner in May. The move means an uncertain future for
unionized staff at the residential care facility. Most of them are care aides who provide personal care, including help with bathing and dressing, to seniors at the care home. Now those workers will be laid off when the contract ends and will have to reapply for their jobs. “They’re shocked,” said Bonnie Pearson, secretary-
business manager for the Hospital Employees Union that represents workers at Inglewood. “There is a very high level of anxiety amongst the workers right now.” The decision to end the agreement by the contracted care provider comes as the union is attempting to negotiate its first contract for workers
and after the union issued strike notice in December. It also comes while the Labour Relations Board has yet to rule on a decertification vote that has been challenged by the union. Last month, employees at Inglewood held a rally to protest what they said are low, stagnant wages. Care aides earn about $16 an
hour at the facility — about the same as what they were paid 20 years ago. Dean Malone, director of operations for Carecorp — which provides services to a number of care facilities throughout B.C. — said the company’s decision to end the contract with Inglewood See Concern page 7
Bobcats and beavers, oh my! BRENT RICHTER brichter@nsnews.com
WestVancouver’s 15th Street corridor has been looking more like a HinterlandWho’s Who than a posh neighbourhood and shopping district this week. Ottawa Avenue resident John Ruddick was enjoying his backyard view Sunday afternoon when he spotted a bobcat enjoying his garden. “It was just this weird-looking cat that my neighbour pointed out,” Ruddick said. Ruddick fetched his camera to grab a few shots of the big cat, which wandered around his garden for about half an hour before it skittered away. “It’s quite powerful. It jumped up over my compost and into the See Beaver page 5
JUMPIN’ JACK SPLASH < :b E-WT .83U]3 []12 )802]) +a - 6-22WR[ *-3 -\1]3 1Y] c80R1-WR hW[Y.-a 3-WT 0R)]36-22 I88)]) 8R 53W)-a% < ^WR]-66T] 7,63]22 .]-1Y]3 2a21]S +380[Y1 MM SWTTWS]13]2 8\ 3-WR -R) 3]*83) f-R0-3a 1]S6]3-103]2% B)) %#+', +: *=&) 9. ^h`C` MIKE WAKEFIELD
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