FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 27, 2000

CCAC sets Oct. 10 strike deadline

HAMILTON – Members of Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 274 who work at the Hamilton-Wentworth Community Care Access Centre have set Oct. 10 as a strike deadline.

The 200 members who work for the CCAC are advocates for quality home care. Case managers visit patients to determine what help they need and to set them up with home care providers. Placement co-ordinators help families lace patients in long-term care facilities. Support staff ensure the work flows smoothly.

A strike by staff of the CCAC would deepen the home care crisis in Hamilton-Wentworth, already crippled by a strike by nurses at the Victorian Order of Nurses, which began Aug. 31.

The union has bargaining scheduled for Oct. 6 with the help of a mediator, and is seeking other dates leading up to the 12:01 a.m. Oct. 10 strike deadline.

"We don’t want to disrupt service to our community, but our pay rates are so low we are losing staff to agencies in Brant, Halton, Niagara and Peel. Until our pay rates can compete with the neighbouring municipalities, the haemorrhage of quality staff will continue," said Pam Clark, president of Local 274.

"Without staff, there’s no home care. Wages have to rise to save the system," she said.

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For further information:

Pat Riddle – 905-525-5527 or 519-751-9087
Pam Clark – 905-523-8600 (ext. 2183)