LONDON – Ontario Public Service Employees Union President Warren (Smokey) Thomas
is telling striking developmental services workers at picket lines in London,
Chatham, St. Thomas and Strathroy today that Premier McGuinty should step up now
and provide the funding needed to stop these strikes.
More than 1,000 developmental service workers in four Southwestern Ontario
developmental services agencies remain on strike as the McGuinty government
refuses to answer the call for improved funding for developmental services.
Striking developmental service workers in London, Middlesex, Chatham-Kent and
Elgin are paid 25-30 per cent lower than workers in equivalent positions in
other fields.
“The McGuinty government knows it is severely under-funding services for
people with developmental disabilities,” Thomas said. “The money was set aside
in the budget, yet the government fails to make it available to workers. I’m
calling on the Premier to write a cheque now and get everyone back to work.”
Seventeen other agencies across Ontario have also provided strike mandates to
their bargaining teams.
“Our members want to get back to work,” Thomas said. “It’s up to the Premier
to provide the money now, and settle these strikes.” |
