Developmental Services
MEDIA RELEASE June 15, 2007
London picket line targets
McGuinty government
 LONDON
– With the strike deadline looming at Community Living London, staff put up
information pickets today to raise community awareness about the government’s
lack of support for people with developmental disabilities.
“We really want to avoid a service disruption if we can,” Denise
Sands, president of OPSEU local 144. “It’s up to the government to come forward
with the necessary funding and we hope everyone will join us in calling on the
Premier to make services for the people we support a priority, before it’s too
late.”
Staff at Community Living London will be in a strike position as
of June 23.
“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,” Ms. Sands continued. “We’re determined to make
sure everyone knows this government may talk a good line, but when it comes to
making the people we support a priority, they’re failing.”
Employers agree 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 percent more. Agencies can’t get enough
qualified staff.
Today’s information picket in London is one of many across
Southwestern Ontario. Pickets also went up at Community Living Stratford,
Community Living Chatham-Kent, Middlesex Community Living, Elgin Association for
Community Living, Community Living Tillsonburg and Community Living Central
Huron.
More than 1000 staff at Community Living London, Middlesex
Community Living, Elgin Association for Community Living and Community Living
Chatham-Kent could all be on strike as of June 25. 16 other agencies across
Ontario also have strong strike votes.
“All the agencies in the area are putting up information pickets
in the hopes that the government will step up with the necessary funding so we
can avoid a strike,” said Ms. Sands.
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For more information contact: Denise Sands, (519) 671-5730
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