The presence of strong labour unions in nursing homes has been shown to have a direct effect on COVID-19 mortality rates.
According to a recent study, the presence of a health care worker union in a nursing home was associated with a 30 percent relative decrease in COVID-19 mortality rate for residents.
The study, which focused on nursing homes in New York state during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, also found that highly unionised nursing homes had lower rates of infection and were significantly less likely to have COVID-19 outbreaks.
Authors Adam Dean, Atheendar Venkataramani and Simeon Kimmel concluded that this had to do with improved access and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) at facilities where unions were stronger.
“Our results suggest that unions may have reduced COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents by successfully demanding PPE for health care workers,” the authors said. “Health care worker unionization may play an important role in ensuring access to appropriate PPE and implementing infection control policies that protect vulnerable nursing home residents.”
Unions in Australia are continuing their campaign for universal access for PPE, to ensure the safety of both workers and the community.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association is the industrial union for registered nurses, enrolled nurses and assistants-in-nursing working in the aged care sector. Join today, and help make your workplace safer.