SEIU Local 1 Canada Home Care 10 Step Action Plan

The following action plan was developed in collaboration with the Red Cross bargaining committee.  We are extending participation in these actions to all SEIU Local 1 Canada home care units to maximize the participation of home care workers.  The issues of travel time and mileage we are trying to resolve at bargaining affects all home care members. This is not unique to Red Cross and we must work together to raise the awareness regarding these issues to the government and the public. 
 
1)     A toll free number, 1-888-686-8682  has been established as part of our action plan. The number is an integral part of our communication strategy for our home care members. Given the nature of the work and the fact that home care workers do not have the ability to be updated by the union in their workplace this hotline will enable home care workers to be up to date on events and information in a timely manner. The number will be in effect on November 7th.

2)      Mailing to all SEIU Local 1 Canada home care workers includes message from President Sharleen Stewart.

3)     October 17-28 - Leafleting Weeks. “RUNNING ON EMPTY” LEAFLET – Each home care unit will be responsible for delivering 1000 leaflets in their community. The leaflets will be sent to those willing to participate for distribution by October 28th. Leaflets can be delivered door to door, in senior buildings, markets, churches or events in the community. Volunteer to help out.

4)     Letter writing campaign.  All chief stewards and stewards will be writing letters to the editor about home care to raise awareness to the public and government. At unit meetings scheduled throughout October members will be encouraged to write letters to the editor of local newspapers and MPPs. A copy of a sample letter is enclosed if you want to send one in yourself. Also enclosed is a list of Liberal MPPs that everyone should write to, email or call. If your local MPP is on the list please take the time to send a letter or call and make sure they respond. Try to attend unit meetings in your area. Bring your letters to the meeting and we will make sure they are mailed.

5)     Lawn sign campaign. The local will be purchasing lawn signs in support of the SEIU National “Running on Empty” Campaign. They will be distributed in October to certain areas of the province to strategically heighten awareness and get media attention.

6)     Sticker Day.  Enclosed are stickers for home care workers to wear on October 20th in recognition of Tommy Douglas Day. Tommy Douglas voted the greatest Canadian ever was born on this day and is the father of Medicare in Canada. All home care workers are asked to wear the sticker that day to illustrate the importance of home care in our health care system.

7)     OCSA Conference  for PSWs.  The home care committee is sending three home care workers to this conference.  If you are attending this conference please let us know.  

8)     CSW Week October 13 – 19.  We are conducting a contest to recognize the role of home care workers during this week. As part of a press release we will be submitting to the media, stories from home care workers to give the personal touch of how important home care is in Ontario and the great jobs you do. The theme is Keep the Care in Home Care.  We are looking for your stories about how home care makes a difference and how meaningful the work you do is to the client and you as a home care worker.

9)     Labour Council Presentations.  At November Labour Council meetings we will be requesting to make a  presentation to Labour Council delegates. It is important that other unions  in the labour movement are aware of our campaign and the working  conditions of home care workers. Chief Stewards will form a delegation to  attend and will be provided with speaking notes. It is important that other  home care workers volunteer to attend in support of the issues. In areas  of the province where there is more than one home care provider  represented by SEIU we will be making a joint presentation

10)     November 3 -7 - MPP Constituency Week.  Chief Stewards will be requesting meetings with local Liberal MPPs to  discuss issues in home care. Lobby packages will be sent out. Arrangements  for the meeting will be coordinated through the head office. We are asking   home care workers to volunteer to be part of the group to meet with the   MPP and participate in this event. It is very important that as many home  care workers as possible participate. The more pressure we continue to  apply to Liberal politicians the greater the effect of our campaign.