Community Living Oakville workers set to strike Nov. 11

OAKVILLE – Workers at Community Living Oakville will be on strike – or locked out – at 12:00 noon Nov. 11 unless the employer returns to the bargaining table, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says.

Talks broke off last night despite major moves by the union bargaining team to reach a settlement, said Stacy Mitro, chair of the bargaining team for 125 members of OPSEU Local 249.

"We were less than one per cent apart when talks broke off, but the employer wouldn’t even respond to our last proposal," she said. "In fact, they haven’t changed their position in two months.

"I don’t see how they can claim to care about the clients if they’re willing to put us out on strike for less than one per cent."

Two weeks ago, Local 249 members gave their bargaining team an 84 per cent strike vote.

"Managers have been overheard saying that a strike would clear up their deficit," said Mitro. "What kind of message does this send to the parents who have entrusted their children to this employer?"

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