51-Year-Old Arlene Reid was a Home and Community Care Services Worker in the Greater Toronto Area
Union Representing Personal Support Workers Demands More Protective Measures from Ford Government
A Statement from Ontario NDP Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath, followed by words from the Union representing Personal Support Workers
Posted April 29th, 2020 on Niagara At Large
Arlene Reid, one of the many brave people who continued caring for people in Ontario during this pandemic crisis, Now she is gone too. Just calling them “heroes” isn’t enough.
QUEEN’S PARK — NDP Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath released the following statement in response to news of a COVID-19 death of a personal support worker (PSW):
“I am deeply saddened to learn about the death of another health care hero to COVID-19 in Ontario. My heartfelt sympathies go out to her family, friends, and union brothers and sisters as they grieve her loss. The sorrow of losing a loved one, friend and co-worker is even more painful during this pandemic, when people can’t gather to remember and console each other.
We must continue to keep health-care heroes in our thoughts as they take on incredible risks to continue to provide our loved ones with compassionate care in the middle of a pandemic, but the province also has to do more to keep them safe on the job by ensuring they have the personal protective equipment they need.”
Sharleen Stewart, president of the Services Employees International Union Healthcare (SEIU), the union Arlene Reid was a member of, along with some 60,000 other health care workers across the Province of Ontario, issued the following statement this April 29th –
Sharleen Stewart, union leader for Ontario’s personal support workers
“Like many healthcare workers precariously employed, she was a dedicated PSW who served her community through multiple employers and facilities in the Peel Region” “Our union has spoken to the family to offer whatever support is needed as they grieve the sudden loss of precious life. She will be missed and remembered.”
“While requests for urgent discussions with (Ontario) Chief Medical Officer Williams have gone ignored, we will continue to demand greater protections for PSWs and all our healthcare heroes who work to keep the rest of us safe and secure.”
The first COVID-19-related death of a personal supporter worker, 54-year-old Christine, Mandegarian, also from the Greater Toronto Area, occurred earlier this April.
At the time of posting, a statement had not yet been released by Ontario Premier Doug Ford on this second death. After the death of the first personal support worker, Christine Mandegarian, the premier offered his condolences to family and friends the following day during his daily COVID-19 briefing.
Arlene Reid, one of the many brave people who continued caring for people in Ontario during this pandemic crisis, Now she is gone.
For a CTV News report on this, click on – https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/second-ontario-health-care-worker-dies-of-covid-19-in-less-than-two-weeks-1.4917827
To read a CBC report on the death, earlier this April of personal support worker Christine Mandegarien, click on – https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/health-worker-covid-coronavirus-death-1.5536183
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