More than 130 mental health workers in Hamilton went on strike Monday, joining a larger movement across the province to protest what they call ongoing underfunding in their field.
At noon, members of Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 262 walked back and forth outside the Lynwood Charlton Centre near Mohawk and Upper Paradise roads.
According to OPSEU, around 20 locals are either on strike or facing lockouts in various communities including Simcoe, London, Barrie, and Toronto. A spokesperson informed CBC Hamilton that roughly 4,000 workers were participating in the protests.
In a news release issued Monday, the union stated that those who joined the picket lines included workers from several organizations who started their strikes over the weekend, along with others who have been locked out by their employers.
In Hamilton, Local 262 President Tamara Putland and Patty Frazer are child and youth workers who have been with Lynwood Charlton for 30 and 40 years respectively.
“Every year it feels like we’re doing more and more with less and less. We are at the end of our rope,” Frazer said.
She mentioned that staff are worn out “and if we’re not doing well and our gas isn’t full, we can no longer help the people that desperately need it.”
Putland explained that this is her workplace’s first strike after members worked without a contract for about two years.
The workers are asking for increased provincial funding as well as retroactive pay related to Bill 124, which limited public sector wage increases to one percent before being ruled unconstitutional.
Local 262 president Tamara Putland, left, and Patty Frazer are child and youth workers who’ve been employed at Lynwood Charlton for 30 and 40 years respectively. (Justin Chandler/CBC)
Putland noted that below-inflation wage increases have forced some employees to couch-surf or take on multiple jobs just to get by; she added that some with college degrees earn about $20 per hour.
“That’s just not doable in today’s world,” Putland said.
She mentioned that her team has shrunk from 230 down to 130 people over the last five years as staff left the industry, resulting in fewer programs and services available for families.
Lynwood Charlton Centre provides various services such as live-in treatment, home treatment, counseling, and school programs. According to its latest annual report, they served approximately 2,300 clients during the fiscal year of 2024-2025. They received around $8.1 million from Ontario’s Ministry of Health along with $1.8 million from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.
The centre announced online that its programs and services have temporarily closed due to this labor disruption while also providing a list of alternative resources available for those in need.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Children , Community, and Social Services responded regarding worker concerns saying that “historic investments” have been made into development services.
This includes “almost $4 billion this year-an increase of $1.6 billion since we took office back in2018,” Julia Lombardo mentioned through an email statement.”Even though collective bargaining lies between employersand unions, we expect all service providersto maintain solid contingency plans protecting residents ensuring there’sno disruptionin care.” Aime Kovacsik serves as Local262’s vice-president working within ahome respite program downtown. At a time when issues surroundingyouth violenceand wellbeingare pressing, she stressedthe importanceof early interventionprovided by her team. Kovacsik collaboratedwith other unionsacross Ontarioto organize OPSEU’scampaign noting insufficientprovincialfundinghasgone towardstaff salaries.
A least one clientalongsidea formerclient participatedin solidaritywithworkersonthe Hamiltonpickettline Monday.
Rykee Edmondsgrew up receiving supportfrom Lynwood Charlton Centreandshowedupto advocateforbetterfundingforpeoplewho did”wondersfor me”.
Tina Mach-Stevenson told her sonrequiresintensive careatthesamecentre. Due tothe strike, she noted he’s currentlyhospitalizedinstead.
“Heneedsenoughstafftocareforhim-qualifiedprofessionalstaff. A remedyisneededregarding Bill124,”Mach-Stevensonsaid.
“Youcannot pourfroman empty cup”, shewarned.“Weneedtotakecareofthestaffwhotakecareofourfamilies.”
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The Centre Expresses Concern Over Labor Disruption
“We know our front-line workers care deeply about their work and those they serve. Our staff work tirelessly to support children, youth, and families with both mental health needs as well as developmental needs,” Michelle Hayes, interim executive director of the centre wrote in an email to CBC Hamilton. “While we support efforts aimed at securing additional government funding, we’re very worried about how this work stoppage will affect children, youth, and families we serve,” she added while expressing hope for quick resumption of bargaining sessions. Hayes did not answer questions regarding how many clients would be affected by these closures nor comments on claims about challenges retaining staff.A spokesperson from the Ministry of Children , Community, and Social Services responded regarding worker concerns saying that “historic investments” have been made into development services.
This includes “almost $4 billion this year-an increase of $1.6 billion since we took office back in2018,” Julia Lombardo mentioned through an email statement.”Even though collective bargaining lies between employersand unions, we expect all service providersto maintain solid contingency plans protecting residents ensuring there’sno disruptionin care.” Aime Kovacsik serves as Local262’s vice-president working within ahome respite program downtown. At a time when issues surroundingyouth violenceand wellbeingare pressing, she stressedthe importanceof early interventionprovided by her team. Kovacsik collaboratedwith other unionsacross Ontarioto organize OPSEU’scampaign noting insufficientprovincialfundinghasgone towardstaff salaries.
A least one clientalongsidea formerclient participatedin solidaritywithworkersonthe Hamiltonpickettline Monday.
Rykee Edmondsgrew up receiving supportfrom Lynwood Charlton Centreandshowedupto advocateforbetterfundingforpeoplewho did”wondersfor me”.
Tina Mach-Stevenson told her sonrequiresintensive careatthesamecentre. Due tothe strike, she noted he’s currentlyhospitalizedinstead.
“Heneedsenoughstafftocareforhim-qualifiedprofessionalstaff. A remedyisneededregarding Bill124,”Mach-Stevensonsaid.
“Youcannot pourfroman empty cup”, shewarned.“Weneedtotakecareofthestaffwhotakecareofourfamilies.”Source link
