FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 3, 1998 CAS workers demand joint workload study – again TORONTO – Ontario children’s aid workers are once again calling on the Minister of Community and Social Services to begin a joint workload study recommended by the Chief Coroner of Ontario. "Obviously we support the hiring, announced today, of more children’s aid workers," said Leah Casselman, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. "Children’s aid staff have campaigned for years to get some recognition of the crushing workloads in this intensely taxing, emotional field. "Unfortunately, today’s announcements do not begin to bring staffing levels up to where they should be," she said. "Until [Community and Social Services Minister] Janet Ecker agrees to a joint workload study, she doesn’t even know what the right staffing levels would be. Workloads are going through the roof right now. Recent changes to legislation increase those workloads." Ontario’s Chief Coroner has recommended that the Ministry initiate a joint workload study with the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies, OPSEU, and CUPE. But the Ministry has shied away from consulting with front-line staff. "If you want to protect children, you’ve got to talk to the front-line workers who know what is happening," Casselman said. Casselman expressed dismay at Ecker’s decision to phase in the new hirings over three years. "The crisis is now," said Casselman. "Ontario’s abused children cannot afford to wait for this government to get serious." OPSEU represents 1,400 children’s aid workers. – 30 – For more information:
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