DRYDEN — Personal support workers at the Patricia Garden’s Supportive Housing Facility voted unanimously in favour of new three-year contacts that will provide them with a 2.8 per cent wage increase.
According to Unifor representative Stephen Boon, the 2.8 per cent wage increase is on top of the $3-wage enhancement provided by the provincial government.
"Combined with the increases and the $3 wage enhancement that the government has applied to PSWs, that's starting to make an environment for working towards making a contract and enhancement to entice people to get into the sector,” Boon said.
On top of the wage increase, the personal support workers will also receive a $.25 per hour increase in shift differentials, an increase in mileage pay to $.57 per kilometre, an additional week of vacation after 30 years of service granting a total of eight weeks vacation, one additional sick day, and $75 increase in eyeglass coverage.
"Despite ongoing provincial funding challenges, we are pleased to see that our healthcare members in Dryden have secured a solid agreement with a number of key improvements and wage increases at the upper end of the provincial range for the sector," Unifor Local 324 president Katrina Peterson said in a release. "We commend the work of the bargaining committee and appreciate the support of the Unifor membership at Patricia Gardens."
The new deal is in place from Apr. 1 to Mar. 31, 2025.
