Workers at Oakville Group Home Settle Strike Agreement

A settlement has been made between striking employees and a group home in Ontario, the union announced on Tuesday.

In announcements posted on its website Tuesday, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) reported that the bargaining team for Local 249 reached an agreement with Central West Specialized Developmental Services (CWSDS), located in Oakville, Ont., early Tuesday after two days of mediation.

The union stated that the agreement was achieved through a method known as mediation-arbitration, and both sides have accepted a return-to-work protocol.  

“Workers held the line against all odds. Through their solidarity, they refused to let a vicious employer divide them,” OPSEU said in one release. “Together, they achieved incredible gains for themselves and their sector and their win sets the stage for all of OPSEU/SEFPO.”

OPSEU Local 249, which represents these workers, went on strike November 19. Wage increases and working conditions were key issues.

CWSDS is a non-profit organization funded by the province that offers a supportive living community for adults with developmental disabilities.

CBC Toronto has contacted CWSDS but has not received a response yet.

Incidents Reported at Care Home During Strike

During the strike, there was an attack on one resident while another passed away.

Both events occurred after the organization moved residents from group homes in Burlington, Georgetown, Halton Hills, Mississauga, and Oakville into its main facility in Oakville at 53 Bond St. in October as part of a contingency plan ahead of the strike.

On December 23, 2025, a resident was bitten on the neck by another resident, according to information from the injured resident’s mother. The individual needed hospitalization where he received stitches for his injury.

On December 19, 2025, another resident died at the home. Halton Regional Police looked into it but said there was “no indication of a criminal offence.”

The union local claimed at that time that moving residents with developmental disabilities from their group homes to a central location created “high stress” for both residents and staff.

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