Private long-term care facility workers launch strike

The largest strike to hit private long-term care homes acrossQuebec starts today.

For the first time ever, more than 3,000 workers will hold rotating walkouts in favour of better working conditions. This will affect 42private long-term care homes in the province.

• Manoir Chomedey, Laval seniors' residence, stripped of its permit
• Choosing a seniors' home: 6 things to look for

The strike is also meant to put pressure on employers to raise wages to $15 per hour.

"These people take care of our elders," Danielle Legault of the SQEES-FTQ said. "They make sure that our mother, father, grandmother arewell taken care of. So those people do deserve a living wage."

Seniorsattendantsas well askitchen and laundrystaffare required to provide essential services but they will hold walkouts for 45 minutes duringeight-hour shifts.

During the strike, only one meal option will be available to residents in the long-term care facilities. Workers will also refrain from mopping floors and making beds.

Negotiationsbetween the union and their employers will continue over the next few weeks.