The Municipality of Chatham-Kent says a staff vacation issue at Riverview Gardens is being addressed.
Civic officials say steps are being taken to alleviate a staffing problem at the municipality’s long-term care facility.
"We have had difficulty attracting and retaining personal support workers and we have been in discussion with Unifor regarding both short and long term solutions to the issue," says Cathy Hoffman, chief human resources officer. "There has been a decline in the number of students entering PSW programs and that, coupled with normal turnover has left us with fewer workers than we would like to have.”
Mayor Randy Hope says this isn't a new issue being brought up, but both sides need to sit down to talk things over."I want to be able to see people take their vacation when they want but at the same time I have to make sure that those vulnerable individuals have the adequate services that are available," says Hope. "It's about both parties sitting down -- it's not one party over the other."
Hoffman has declined to discuss specific solutions being brought forward until administration and Unifor have a chance to finalize details and share them with staff.
There are approximately 149 personal support workers at the facility which has 320 residents.
With files from Natalia Vega.