Community Living Trent Highlands workers represented by OPSEU and SEFPO unions are on strike Monday as pressure mounts on the Ford government to increase funding for services supporting vulnerable individuals across Ontario.
Thousands of workers at nearly two dozen agencies are either on strike or locked out, including employees in developmental services, women’s shelters, legal aid, youth corrections and child welfare organizations.
Workers are demanding a 6.5 per cent wage increase added to wage grids, with retroactive pay dating back to when Bill 124 was ruled unconstitutional.
PTBOTODAY.ca spoke with Jessica Bushey, President of Local 358, who said many frontline public service workers were praised by Ford during the pandemic but are still fighting for fair wages years later.
Bushey also criticized a forced offer from her employer that includes layoffs, saying members are unwilling to accept job cuts in exchange for wage increases.
Full time Community Living worker Ashley Bourget says that support for these frontline workers and the services they provide is vital.
Union members say they will continue job action until the province addresses wage concerns, staffing shortages and ongoing funding pressures impacting community and social services across Ontario.
(Written by: Felicia Massey)
