SEIU Healthcare Celebrates Ontario's Renewed Commitment to Establish a Mandatory PSW Registry

RICHMOND HILL, ON, Sept. 28, 2017 /CNW/ - Today's announcement that Ontario will establish a Personal Support Worker (PSW) Registry is an occasion to recognize and celebrate the invaluable work PSWs provide to Ontarians each and every day.

SEIU Healthcare knows that PSWs can play a far bigger role in the delivery of high-quality health care across the system.

"Ontario is moving in the right direction to support workers, patients and families with a renewed commitment to establish a mandatory PSW Registry," said SEIU Healthcare President Sharleen Stewart.  "As a union that represents over 57,000 healthcare workers, 90 per cent of whom are working women, we look forward to the implementation of a registry that moves towards recognizing PSWs as essential healthcare professionals.  SEIU Healthcare will continue to advocate for a robust PSW Registry that works for our members and supports the greater needs of Ontario's healthcare system."

One of the key issues facing the PSW labour market is that it too closely resembles a casual labour market where the skills, qualifications and potential of the workforce are not fully recognized, rewarded or incentivized. 

Today's announcement by the Ontario Government to launch a new PSW Registry is a positive step towards more fully recognizing PSWs as not only caring, but respected and essential healthcare professionals. The PSW Registry is a significant tool as part of the effort to build a PSW workforce that is recognized, supported, and ready to meet the care needs of patients.  

"PSWs, like myself, work hard every day to provide the best care for our patients," said SEIU Healthcare Home and Community Care Executive Board Representative Andy Elliot. "A registry for PSWs is important to me. I know this means that my colleagues and I will begin to get the recognition we deserve for the work and skills we bring to our jobs.  This signals that we deserve to be treated like the professionals that we are, and that we are an essential member of the healthcare team."

SEIU Healthcare will continue to advocate for additional steps to improve the working conditions of PSWs, including increasing access to training and education opportunities, as well as the ability to build greater financial security for their retirement years.

ABOUT SEIU HEALTHCARE
SEIU Healthcare represents more than 57,000 healthcare and community service workers across Ontario. The union's members work in hospitals, homecare, nursing and retirement homes, and community services throughout the province. SEIU Healthcare has a strong track record of improving wages, benefits and working conditions for healthcare workers, supporting the training and development needs of its members, and strengthening standards in the management and delivery of patient and client care. www.seiuhealthcare.ca

SOURCE SEIU Healthcare