You are probably asking yourself if things have really changed and if not you should be questioning those people who encouraged you to vote for McGinty or Hampton.
Developmental services strikes loom in southern Ontario
'We are among the lowest-paid workers in the entire public sector.' - Nancy Schembri
London (3 June 2007) - More than 1,000 workers at four southwestern Ontario associations for community living could be on strike as early as June 21 if the Ontario government refuses to negotiate fair settlements, says the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE).
Talks have broken off and conciliation has failed to produce agreements at four agencies that support people with developmental disabilities: Community Living Chatham-Kent, Community Living London, the Elgin Association for Community Living (St. Thomas) and Middlesex Community Living (Strathroy).
“The McGuinty government is failing to adequately fund our employers so they can improve our wages and deal with the crisis of recruitment and retention across the developmental services sector,” says Nancy Schembri, spokesperson for OPSEU Local 144 in London.
“We are among the lowest-paid workers in the entire public sector, and it’s time we got the recognition and appreciation we deserve.”
Developmental services workers at the four southwestern agencies are paid 25-30% less than workers in equivalent positions in health care, education, and municipalities.
“People in our line of work care deeply about the people we support, and we will do everything in our power to avoid a strike,” says Schembri. “But right now, the ball is firmly in the Premier’s court.”
Workers at 18 developmental services agencies represented by OPSEU have given their bargaining teams strike votes ranging from 86 to 100 per cent. More units across the province are set to hold strike votes soon. NUPGE
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