FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 26, 2002
CAS Workers Vote 87% to Strike
Employees of the Children’s Aid Society of the District of Sudbury and Manitoulin have voted overwhelmingly to reject their employer’s last offer and authorize strike action if an improved contract offer is not received.
The 150 members of OPSEU Local 668 have been in contract negotiations since March 31, 2002. The strike deadline has been set for 12:01 a.m. Aug. 14, 2002.
The Children’s Aid Workers are employed in classifications ranging from front line child protection workers to support staff. They work out of three locations in Sudbury, Manitoulin and Chapleau.
“This is an organization which values children’s needs above all other considerations, ” said Linda Aho, President of Local 668. “The employees are a part of that. However, workers find it next to impossible to physically cope with the demands of high caseloads, while trying to provide the service they believe the children of this community
deserve”.
The main issues dividing the parties include workload, wages and mileage. The employer is offering wage increases of 5 per cent over three years, while the Union is proposing 9 per cent for social work staff and 11-¼ per cent for support staff.
Workload is a key issue because CAS employees are struggling to keep pace with dramatically increased caseloads and numbers of children in care. The employer is offering caseload caps, which are over and above the standards set by the Ministry of Community, Family and Children’s Services.
When the Child Welfare Funding Formula was first implemented in 1998, it was based upon 1997 case volumes. Since that time caseloads have skyrocketed, standards and regulations have changed drastically but the province has reneged on its promise to review the funding formula to determine the adequacy of the of the financial resources directed at
protecting children at risk.
The Ministry of Labour appointed a Conciliation Officer who has been meeting with the Employer and the Union to see if a means of resolving the impasse can be found.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
LINDA AHO AT 560-1502 (WORK)
MURIEL ETHIER OPSEU STAFF REPRESENTATIVE AT 560-1502
