Workers at private seniors' homes to strike Monday

Employees at some private seniors' residences in Quebec are set to begin a 48-hour strike on Monday as part of their efforts to secure better work conditions and higher wages.

Earlier this month, 3,000 employees from 42private long-term care homes held a one-day rotating strike. It marked the first time unionized workers atprivate seniors' residences have walked off the job as part of a labour dispute.

• Private long-term care facility workers launch strike across Quebec

Tomorrow, hundreds of employees from 40 senior residenceswill continue to put the pressure on, affecting mostly seniors' homes in theGreater Montreal regionbut also in Quebec City, Trois-Rivires, Chicoutimi and the Saguenay.

SQEES-FTQ, the union representing the employees 80 per cent of which are women working as housekeepers, nursing assistants, cooks and team leaders has been in ongoing negotiations with employers.

Workers have been calling for awage increasefrom the current average of $12.50 to $15 an hour.

Essential services will continue during the strike.

The union says its next step is to hold a general strike.