Low staffing levels are contributing to a lack of vacation time for workers at Riverview Gardens in Chatham.
That's according to Rebecca Kitchen, who is a personal support worker and the Unifor chair at the municipally-run long-term care facility.
She says multiple employees at the facility have had their vacation requests denied over the past three years.
"We're looking for vacation to rest our bodies, our minds, our hearts... and to spend some time with our family as well," says Kitchen. "We're just hoping that we can bring some attention to the situation and get back to conversations -- we're willing to talk at any point and time."
She says the facility is hiring right now, adding that having more personal support workers and practical nurses at the facility would help the situation.
"It's an online process and please absolutely do come out," says Kitchen. "It's a good place to work -- minus the vacation denial -- but with new members and new staff, maybe we can get there."
Kitchen was joined by several other employees from the long-term care facility for an information picket Sunday afternoon.
BlackburnNews.com has reached out to officials with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent for comment regarding the labour dispute, but no comments were provided at the time of this publication.
-With files from Natalia Vega
