By Emily Heil, Yahlehly
Support staff with OPSEU Local 249, employed at Central West Specialized Development Services (CWSDS) in Oakville, Ontario, are currently in their twelfth week of striking. This facility is provincially funded and serves adults with developmental disabilities.
On February 3, the workers organized a public rally to gather support. As they strike during the harsh cold of the polar vortex, replacement workers with as little as one week of training are taking care of some of the region’s most vulnerable individuals.
Since the start of the strike, reports from CBC have mentioned an attack between residents and two fatalities among them. Jan Beddoe, whose son Christopher was involved in an incident, told the CBC, “This was a specific incident where the client who requires eyes on them at all times, one-to-one, was not being supported. He was not protected from harming someone else.”
The workers on strike are deeply unsettled that both their CEO and the Ontario government have refused to engage in serious negotiations to resolve this situation. This comes despite evident issues regarding care when non-union agency staff are present.
Many residents at CWSDS lack family members who visit or support them. One worker described how difficult this can be for these individuals:
“This is what hurts people. We don’t get to say goodbye and the individuals aren’t around anybody they know. Some of these individuals have lived here for 35-38 years. There’s a relationship there. Those who passed were some of our longest standing residents.”
CWSDS employees aren’t making unreasonable requests; they’re simply asking for a pay raise that matches inflation rates. Many members of OPSEU Local 249 must juggle multiple jobs just to make ends meet. Their last contract did not include any wage increases, and since 2020-when the Ministry of Health implemented a province-wide $3 wage increase for essential community care workers-they haven’t received a raise at all. Although they earn slightly above living wage for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), it falls short compared to industry standards even with many years of experience under their belts. Comparable roles elsewhere pay about five dollars more per hour than what they currently receive. Through this strike action, these workers are demonstrating that they’re no longer willing to accept disrespect from both their employer and government representatives; they’re ready to take a stand.
The employer believes offering a yearly wage increase of just 1.38 percent over six years is generous; however, this rate doesn’t keep up with inflation and would mean that over time workers would effectively be earning less for their efforts.
Source link
Workers Are Essential For Care At These Facilities
CWSDS CEO Patricia Kyle awarded herself a 9.99 percent salary increase this year while spending $3 million on consulting services. In contrast, she expects those who provide actual care to endure declining living conditions and devalued wages. This attitude shows blatant disregard for vulnerable community members who depend on care services-a situation that’s unacceptable in Ontario or anywhere else in Canada where healthcare funding has often exploited marginalized workers-including many people of color within OPSEU Local 249-to fill gaps created by budget cuts (like prioritizing work visas for caretakers and nurses while limiting pathways toward citizenship). Vanessa Edwards, Vice President of Local 249 shared her thoughts with us about how swiftly employees at LCBO were brought back into negotiations compared to how slowly actions have been taken regarding care facilities where people’s lives hang in balance. “We take our jobs seriously and in some cases we’re the only family our individuals have. A lot of them are older; their parents or caregivers have passed,” Edwards told Spring. Several regions have begun enacting anti-scab laws due to union pressure; however Ontario remains unresponsive to such initiatives. You can help support these workers by joining them on their picket line located at 53 Bond Street in Oakville or by reaching out via phone or email to your local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), Premier Doug Ford , and Ontario’s Ministry of Community and Social Living advocating for fair treatment towards OPSEU Local 249 members. “Call your MPP and say ‘Hey what’s going on in Oakville? Why aren’t you guys stepping up?’” suggested Edwards when asked how others could lend support during this struggle. Both those needing assistance at CWSDS as well as those providing it require solidarity if they hope achieve better conditions across healthcare sectors overall. Did you like this article? Help us produce more like it by donating $1, $2 , or $5. DonateSource link
