ODSP staff across Ontario to protest unhealthy workloads at noon hour Walks on Thursday May 22

MEDIA ADVISORY

Frustrated by the McGuinty government’s indifference to the problem of ill health in the workplace caused by unrealistic caseload demands, hundreds of Ontario Disability Support Program staff members across Ontario will take part in a noon hour Walk for a Healthy Workplace on Thursday May 22.

The purpose of the Walks is to draw public attention to health problems suffered by ODSP workers caused by caseload levels that are more than twice the national average.

All Walks will start and end at local ODSP offices in more than 40 communities across Ontario. For a list of communities please click here

A 2007 report paid for by the provincial government found that ODSP workers suffer from high levels of stress, tension, ill health and high absentee rates caused by a caseload burden more severe than similar work in other provinces.

In Ontario today, an ODSP Income Support Specialist is responsible for an average of 530 cases, compared with a national average of about 250.

More than 325,000 ODSP clients and their families rely on the public services of the ODSP. All struggle to survive on incomes below the poverty line. They are not receiving the level of public services they deserve.