Media Advisory - First-ever violence poll of staff at city-run, long-term care homes released Tuesday - 12:30 p.m. at Toronto City Hall

Logo: Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU) / Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) (CNW Group/Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE))

Logo: CUPE Local 79 (CNW Group/Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE))

Logo: CUPE Ontario (CNW Group/Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE))

TORONTO, April 8, 2019 /CNW/ - The findings of a new poll that probed the frequency and type of violence staff experience at City of Toronto-run, long-term care homes, will be released Tuesday, April 9 (2019) at 12:30 p.m. at Toronto City Hall – Second Floor – Reception A.

In addition to incidence of violence, staff, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79, at the city's ten municipal care homes were probed about job roles and gender, their perceptions of resident care quality, staffing levels at the time violent incidents happened, and how often they report assaults.

On April 16, Toronto council will consider a motion to implement a strategy to strengthen 'emotion-centered' resident care and phase-in a multi-year hiring and staffing plan to deal with the rising acuity and complex care needs of long-term care home residents.

An in-depth study of long-term care staff in seven Ontario communities, including Toronto, conducted by Canadian researchers, Dr. James Brophy and Dr. Margaret Keith, associated with the University of Windsor and the University of Stirling in the UK will also be presented Wednesday.

Viewed together, the study (Breaking Point: Violence Against Long-Term Care Staff) and poll offer an incisive look at violence as symptomatic of a sector that undervalues both its staff and residents and how violence affects workers' health and well-being – causing injuries, unaddressed emotional trauma, job dissatisfaction, and burnout – and, ultimately, resident care quality.

CUPE 79 represents more than 3000 staff at ten City of Toronto long-term care homes. It is the first time the union has surveyed its long-term care sector members on workplace violence and harassment.

WHO:	David Mitchell, President, CUPE Local 79  Josh Matlow, Councillor, Ward 12 Candace Rennick, CUPE Ontario Secretary-Treasurer (a former long-term care worker)  Dr. James Brophy, Dr. Margaret Keith, Michael Hurley  (Breaking Point: Violence Against Long-Term Care Staff Researchers) A CUPE 79, Personal Support Worker (PSW)
WHAT:	Release of poll - City of Toronto long-term care staff experience with workplace violence
WHERE:	Toronto City Hall – Second Floor, Reception A
WHEN:	Tuesday, April 9, 2019 – 12:30 p.m.

SOURCE Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications, 416-559-9300, [e-mail]