LONDON – Over 1,000 workers at four southwestern Ontario
associations for community living could be on strike as early as June 21 if the
McGuinty government refuses to fund their wage demands, the Ontario Public
Service Employees Union says.
Talks have broken off and conciliation has failed to produce a
settlement at four agencies that support people with developmental disabilities:
Community Living Chatham-Kent, Community Living London, the Elgin Association
for Community Living (St. Thomas), and Middlesex Community Living (Strathroy),
the union said.
“The McGuinty government is failing to adequately fund our
employers so they can improve our wages and deal with the crisis of recruitment
and retention across the developmental services sector,” said Nancy Schembri,
spokesperson for OPSEU Local 144 in London. “We are among the lowest-paid
workers in the entire public sector, and it’s time we got the recognition and
appreciation we deserve.”
Developmental services workers at the four southwestern agencies
are paid 25-30 per cent less than workers in equivalent positions in health
care, education, and municipalities, Schembri said.
“People in our line of work care deeply about the people we
support, and we will do everything in our power to avoid a strike,” said
Schembri. “But right now, the ball is firmly in the Premier’s court.”
Workers at 18 developmental services agencies represented by
OPSEU have given their bargaining teams strike votes ranging from 86 to 100 per
cent. More units across the province are set to hold strike votes soon.
