TORONTO – Staff who support people with
developmental disabilities in communities across Ontario are picketing local
MPP offices and other community hubs today, to highlight the Ontario
government’s inadequate response to the crisis in developmental services.
While MPPs stand in the Legislature to pay tribute
to Community Living Day, the staff who provide essential supports for people
with developmental disabilities in the community are calling on the
government to provide necessary funding increase now.
“Workers and employers agree one of the biggest
problems facing developmental services is low wages – workers in this sector
make 25 – 30 percent less than people in comparable fields,” said Warren
(Smokey) Thomas, newly elected president of OPSEU. “The government announced
new funding in the spring budget, but decided to only provide a small
portion this year and it doesn’t come close to addressing the serious wage
gap that exists. We want to make sure our members can stay on the job and
the government needs to do its part.”
The average wage in developmental services is less
than $34,000 a year for full-time workers and almost two thirds of the
people who work in the field are forced to work part-time because of the
funding shortfall. Agencies aren’t able to attract and keep the qualified
staff they need.
“For years, highly trained and experienced workers
have been walking away from this profession they love to take a job with a
better pay cheque,” said Sue Walker, a support worker and chair of OPSEU’s
developmental service sector. “Our members have decided this can’t continue.
We need to stand up or the quality of services will continue to decline for
the people we support.”
Contracts have expired for 34 OPSEU represented
agencies. 17 already have strong strike mandates with another17 units
preparing for votes.
