Ninety-nine employees working at three retirement homes operated by Retirement Residence Real Estate Investment Trust (RRREIT) voted to join SEIU Local 1 Canada in 2007. Staff at Edinburgh Retirement Residence, Elmsmere Place Retirement Residence and Hunt Club Manor, all located in Ottawa, now have a union to defend their rights.

“SEIU has grown considerably in the Ottawa region over the past few years,” said Linda Elliott, Deputy Director of Organizing for SEIU Local 1 Canada. “Our union is leading the charge to help retirement home workers Organize every retirement home in our national capital region.”

SEIU Local 1 Canada is an Organizing union that represents more than 46,000 health care and community services workers in Ontario. Its members work in hospitals, home care, nursing and retirement homes and community services.