Vanessa Edwards is an employee at Central West Specialized Developmental Services (CWSDS), a government-funded supportive living facility for adults with developmental disabilities. She helps many individuals learn the skills needed to transition to community supportive living homes operated by the organization.
Support staff at the Oakville care center went on strike last month, over 40 days after CWSDS management asked Ontario’s Ministry of Labour for a no-board report. Before the strike started, management had moved residents from other facilities back into the Oakville site as a backup plan.
“It doesn’t take long to unlearn skills,” said Edwards, who also serves as vice-president of OPSEU Local 249. “And now we’re going to send them back into the community and start all over again; that isn’t fair to these individuals or to the staff who have to begin anew. That’s what we’re worried about.”
CWSDS asserts that all members of its care team are properly trained and qualified to look after these individuals, including agency staff brought in during the strike. The union disagrees.
“These people were moved out years ago; they were happy in their community receiving support, and because we want fair wages, they were brought back here,” union president Julie Geiss told City News.
“I wouldn’t leave these individuals with anyone untrained, so I can’t understand how they’re leaving them with vulnerable staff,” Geiss says.
This Friday marked one month since workers walked off their jobs, and now the union is directly contacting the CWSDS Board of Directors while holding a picket outside Dr. Olivia Ng’s Hamilton office.
In a letter sent to the board, the union states in part, “Under CEO Patricia Kyle’s leadership and this Board’s oversight, serious issues have put health and safety at risk.”
Kyle tells City News, “We’ve seen great resilience among those we support as they adapt to their temporary surroundings and continue to thrive.”
“People with developmental disabilities or those viewed as less are often undervalued; this attitude extends all the way up to our government,” said Edwards. “Why aren’t they stepping in and saying, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’”
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services responded with a statement saying, “Collective bargaining is between employers and unions representing employees. The ministry requires agencies to create contingency plans,” adding that inspections are conducted for compliance confirmation.
The union informs City News that the Ministry of Labour has called everyone back to negotiations on Friday morning.
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