The second document is an October 2005 report entitled Understaffed & Under Pressure: A reality check by Ontario health care workers (also available on the OFL website). In May and June 2005, the Ontario Federation of Labour, working in conjunction with affiliated health care unions, sponsored meetings in 15 Ontario communities to examine the consequences of understaffing. The report is a record of first ever meetings of health care workers from all sectors and unions. They came to mutual conclusions that all sectors and workplaces have been hard hit by understaffing; that the problems associated with understaffing, and its consequences are systemic and serious.

On the issues of long-term care we have worked closely with our affiliated unions in health care. These unions have thousands of members who are the dedicated workers who provide quality services in this sector across Ontario. We have also worked closely with our community allies through organizations such as the Ontario Health Coalition. 

The OFL November 2005 convention policy paper Rebuilding Health Care called for specific actions which the McGuinty government could begin to implement immediately in the long-term care sector:

• A required minimum standard of 3.5 hours per day of nursing and personal care for residents.
• Staffing levels that reflect not only the numbers of staff but also the appropriate classifications and qualifications of staff to ensure that residents receive the care that is appropriate to their needs.
• Soliciting ongoing input into long-term care policies by workers through their union, residents and their families.
• • Increase capacity of workers to have a say in what is happening in their facilities by instituting regular, unannounced inspections and mandate inspectors to speak with residents, family and workers about conditions. Implement whistleblower protection for workers who complain about conditions and for the protection of residents.
• Mandatory reporting and monitoring of staff levels instead of the Liberal “voluntary compliance”. This will ensure that there is proper use of government monies.

There are a number of broad areas of concern that we have with Bill 140.  They include:

1. The lack of a staffing standard,
2. Identification of needs and solutions,
3. Undermining of non-profit sector, and
4. Geographic differences in standards.