I WOULD LIKE THIS LETTER TO BE AN ANONYMOUS ONE, PLEASE.
“I have been working for The Red Cross Care Partners for half a year now, but have been in the personal care field my whole life. I take a tremendous amount of pride in my career and almost always leave my clients’ homes with a smile on my face. Nonetheless, like many other jobs, it is certainly no walk in the park. For confidentiality purposes I’m not allowed to discuss the specific tasks for which I am responsible. However, if this were not the case, I’ll bet I could make half of your jaws drop.
Moreover, we offer clients much more than personal care and light housework: we offer companionship. Something as simple as a compliment, a joke, or even a listening ear can leave a considerable impact. Furthermore, some clients—especially those living independently—rarely see anybody apart from their caregiver. This being said, you can imagine how meaningful those few hours a week can be for some people.
Despite the above facts, personal support workers are underappreciated. The reason me and my coworkers at RCCP are currently on strike is because we do not feel that our efforts are reflected in our wages. What adds to the frustration is the difference in the wages we earn compared to those working at nursing/retirement homes and even other care companies.
Being on strike naturally comes with feelings of guilt; my clients depend on me. However, I’m hoping that by these means, this dependency—and congruently the importance of our positions—will become evident and give my coworkers and I what we strive for and deserve: higher wages and gas mileage.”
Margreet de Kock