Hospitals across Ontario are working to get clarity from the province on which essential health care workers qualify for a wage top-up.
While a pay increase for essential workers is appreciated, hospital CEOs fear leaving some workers out will create an "us and them" environment in healthcare.
That is why the CEOs of Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, Windsor Regional Hospital and Erie Shores Healthcare are lobbying MPPs and the Ontario Hospital Association for clarity regarding who qualifies for the $4 per hour increase in pay, which was announced by the provincial government late last month.
The province has released a list, but Janice Kaffer, CEO of Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, told BlackburnNewsWindsor.com that it leaves a lot of valued workers in the cold.
"By including some and not including others, what is set up in our organization is 'us and them'," said Kaffer. "All of the CEOs across the old Erie St. Clair LHIN have talked about the fact that we all agree that all staff should be included."
Kaffer said when the pandemic was declared, no worker demanded extra pay. Most believed they signed up for heightened risks during a pandemic when they embarked on a career in healthcare. When the World Health Organization declared the pandemic, many who did not typically work on the frontlines put their hands up to help.
Many of the staff at HDGH have been arguing that they should get the top-up as well.
"I'm getting lots of emails from staff telling me why they deserve it," said Kaffer. "Every time I tell them 'I agree'. I think all of our staff have worked tremendously hard. All of our staff are valuable. So, picking and choosing which ones get a top-up is extremely difficult."
In the meantime, the Southwestern Ontario Healthcare and Service Workers Union, CLAC Local 303, said more than 100 employees at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance will not receive the pandemic pay. Members represented by the union have urged CLAC to reach out to MPP Rick Nicolls to explain how their position makes them as vulnerable as the listed classifications.
For a list of who currently qualify for the top-up from the province, click here.
-With files from Adelle Loiselle
