In a joint letter with 13 other bargaining agent members of the National Joint Council, PSAC requested that Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos take the lead in talks between the Public Sector Pension (PSP) and ministries of health in each province with the goal to move Revera from private, to public ownership. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the evidence has clearly shown that residents in private long-term care facilities were more likely to die from COVID-19 than those in publicly owned and operated long-term care facilities. As of April 12, 2021, 701 people have died in Revera facilities. Federal public sector workers insist that the managers of their pension plan correct this horrific situation. 

PSAC began this effort early in the pandemic, writing directly to PSP CEO Neil Cunningham and working with the Canadian Health Coalition to mobilize support across the country. Since then, thousands of Canadians have joined the call.

The signatories reminded Duclos that there is a significant body of evidence showing private long-term care had a record of inferior and often dangerous care for residents long before this pandemic began. 

“Even before the pandemic, the lower quality of care provided by for-profit long-term care facilities was well documented, showing fewer hours of care as well as higher rates of mortality and hospitalization.”

They also emphasized that this situation is not limited to long-term care:

“We know that outsourcing within the federal public service is wasteful and inefficient – and the same is true of long-term care. We have fought for decades to defend public services, including health care. Revera’s for-profit care and business model represents everything members of the NJC fight against.”

While waiting for a response, PSAC will continue its campaign to pressure PSP to act. Our members insist on it, our seniors deserve it. 

Add your name now.