'We really wanted to avoid a strike but the government has not come forward.' - Denise Sands, OPSEU Local 144
London (25 June 2007) – Employees at Community Living London walked off the job over the weekend after failing to reach a negotiated settlement. They have since been joined by workers at several other developmental services agencies in southwestern Ontario.
The staff are represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE).
“We really wanted to avoid a strike but the government has not come forward with the necessary funding,” says Denise Sands, president of OPSEU Local 144.
“The government’s been able to get away with under-funding services for people with developmental disabilities because most people just don’t realize it’s happening," she said.
"We hope this strike will raise public awareness of the government’s lack of commitment to the people we support and hope everyone will join us in calling on the premier to make services for the people we support a priority."
25-30% wage gap
Employers agree with OPSEU that the biggest problem facing developmental services is low wages. Staff are leaving the profession for equivalent positions in other fields because the pay is 25-30% more. Agencies can’t get enough qualified staff. Developmental services are in crisis and it’s people with developmental disabilities that are suffering the most.
“The last thing we want to be doing is withholding services,” said Sands.
“The problem is, this government has proven we have to do something drastic to raise awareness of their lack of commitment to the people we support. Right now all the McGuinty government is doing is making promises for help three years from now when they may not even be the government.”
More than 1,000 staff at Community Living London, Middlesex Community Living, Elgin Association for Community Living and Community Living Chatham-Kent are currently affected and a total of 16 other agencies across Ontario have also taken strong strike votes.
“We want to get back to work. Everyone agrees on the problem – it’s up to the government to fix it,” said Ms. Sands. NUPGE
More information:
Slowdown draws near in developmental services dispute
Developmental services strikes loom in Ontario
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