Photo courtesy of: CUPE
A union representing food service workers at Peterborough Regional Health Centre says staff at the hospital’s Tim Hortons are facing chronic understaffing, unsafe working conditions and mounting workplace stress as contract negotiations continue.
CUPE Local 1943, which represents workers employed by Compass Group at the hospital cafeteria and Tim Hortons franchise, says employees are struggling with heavy workloads, missed breaks and what it describes as poor management and inadequate health and safety standards.
Sharon Richer, secretary-treasurer of OCHU-CUPE, spoke with PTBOTODAY.ca.
One worker said lunch breaks are frequently delayed because of staffing pressures, while another said customers and hospital staff can wait more than 30 minutes for basic orders during busy periods.
The union says the demanding pace has also contributed to workplace injuries and claims worker concerns have not always been taken seriously by management.
CUPE Local 1943 president Lisa Barker said workers deserve improved wages, safer working conditions and greater respect on the job.
“The workers here deserve fair compensation,” Barker said in a statement. “But they also deserve respect and decent working conditions, free from harassment and discrimination.”
The union says many of the affected workers are women, including racialized workers and international students, and alleges those vulnerabilities have contributed to exploitative workplace conditions.
Compass Group is contracted by Peterborough Regional Health Centre to provide food services in the cafeteria and Tim Hortons location.
Richer adds the workers are seeking contract improvements that would bring their working conditions more in line with other hospital food service employees represented by the same local.
CUPE members were set to hand out leaflets and serve what the union called “cruelty-free” coffee in the hospital parking lot Wednesday as part of a public awareness campaign tied to the ongoing bargaining process.
The union says it is prepared to escalate its campaign if an agreement is not reached.
(Written by: Jordan Mercier)
