‘Gone so abruptly’: Rapport with Ten Ten Sinclair caregivers broken after strike, resident says

The strike at Ten Ten Sinclair may be over, but one resident says it will have lasting impacts on her.

Lorna Ross lives in the independent living facility’s Fokus II housing, which serves people with physical disabilities.

Ross, who lives with spastic cerebral palsy, says the relationship she had with her regular caregivers has been damaged and she is worried about the future.

“I just worry about the rapport that I’ve had with them, being pulled apart for two-and-a-half weeks, and that’s my current thought right now,” she told CityNews. “What is it going to be like after they come back?”

BACKGROUND: Health-care worker strike ends after tentative deal reached with Manitoba

The 160 health-care workers at Ten Ten Sinclair went on strike March 6, calling for fair wages and more support for the workers.

Ross, whose condition limits her movement, was forced to rely on friends or other health-care staff to help with daily tasks, but felt the level of care suffered.

She’s not sure what to expect once her regular health-care providers come back to work. She’s now worried they’ll leave again with no notice, and she’s afraid to be left with irregular care.

“On one hand I’m glad that they’re coming back, but… I’m not sure of the relationship that we had will go back the same way it was,” she said.

“They were gone so abruptly and I had built such a routine with them and I know the closeness won’t be there now because I’ll have that thought in the back of my mind: what if they get up and go again? That’s always going to be something that’s going to stick with me now.”

Ross previously told CityNews she stood in solidarity with the workers, but wished Ten Ten Sinclair had put a plan in place to get residents their usual care once the strike began.

WATCH: Winnipeg resident left without regular care during healthcare worker strike

The union representing the Ten Ten Sinclair workers, Canadian Union of Public Employee (CUPE) Manitoba, says workers are excited to be off the picket lines.

“They just want to get back into the job,” said CUPE Manitoba president Gina McKay. “They want to see the tenants, they miss the work. These are people that have a strong passion for the work.”

The workers were without a new contract for four years. The agreement – voted 97 per cent in favour – includes general wage increases, wage adjustments, an additional pay step, a long-service premium, double overtime rates, increased shift premiums, retro-pay and a signing bonus, according to CUPE.

“This is a contract with huge gains for health-care workers in Manitoba,” said McKay.