Regent Park Community Health Centre (RPCHC) is currently facing a severe health care crisis, with community health care workers from Local 5115 of OPSEU/SEFPO being forced to go on strike two weeks ago after their employer refused to offer them a fair deal. These workers are the frontline in the poisoned drug epidemic and play a vital role in saving lives in the community. A news conference and rally will be held on April 4th to discuss the impact of this crisis on vulnerable clients and demand that RPCHC management ends the strike. Guests of solidarity will include striking workers from the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), members of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 535, among others.
Established over 50 years ago, RPCHC serves residents of Regent Park, who are predominantly racialized, often with precarious status, living in a mid-to-low income community. The center provides essential services and programs such as overdose prevention programs, addiction support and homelessness services, as well as primary healthcare. However, for nearly six years, wages have been frozen for these workers while benefits have been frozen for 30 years. They are demanding better wages, benefits and a psychologically safe internal work environment.
Community health care workers at RPCHC are severely underpaid within the healthcare sector leading to recruitment and retention issues despite months of negotiation with their employer. With no resolution in sight, this has led to a call for action by these essential workers to address the pressing issues faced by them in Regent Park.
In conclusion, it is crucial that we address this crisis faced by RPCHC’s staff members who are providing critical services to residents of Regent Park. We must demand that RPCHC management ends this strike so that our community’s most vulnerable members receive the care they need.
The staff at RPCHC like other community health care workers are severely underpaid within the health care sector leading to a recruitment and retention crisis despite months of negotiation with their employer. The situation has led to a call for action to address
