As the clouds and sun battled for attention above them, strike action began on Monday from local unions down at Loyalist College in reaction to what’s being described as an ‘unconstitutional’ provincial legislation and a local organization supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
The OPSEU Local 448 union representing workers at Community Living Prince Edward, with support from other locals, including those representing Pathways to Independence, are striking against the organization and the Doug Ford government and Bill 124, which they say has led to ‘stolen wages’ from workers.
Back at the beginning of May, 27 bargaining units – representing more than 4,500 OPSEU/SEFPO members – filed for No Board reports together in a coordinated show of strength.
However, there was a failure to reach a collective agreement with CLPE, leading to the strike at 12:01 a.m. Monday.
The last collective agreement expired in 2024.
Bill 124 originally capped public sector wage increases at just 1-per cent annually for three years amidst crushing inflation and a cost-of-living crisis, but even after it’s repeal in 2024, community health and social services workers say they are still being underfunded.
“We’re taking part in this Worth Fighting For campaign to try to get the Ford government to give more funding to community and social services, so we’re fighting for more funding for that, (along with) better wages and no forced overtime,” said Victoria Robinson, Local 448 vice-president.
Those on the picket lines say the people they work with were reportedly removed from their homes and into Loyalist College dorms to be supported by so-called ‘scabs,’ people that they’ve never met and never worked with, while being told they were ‘going on a vacation.’
“We’re here trying to get them to send people back to their homes, where they’re comfortable,” Robinson said.
“It feels like they’re punishing the clients. They are starting a campaign that feels like staff shouldn’t picket out front of their homes, but in the past, clients have loved seeing the staff,” added union president Kim Mayer.
“They look forward to waving at them. people dress up in costumes and have signs to say hi. They’re really taking away all the loved people from them.”
Close to 60 people are supported in group homes, with many more supported independently.
This is part of a broader campaign with thousands of workers across 22 community organizations in Ontario represented by OPSEU striking.
Striking workers in Quinte say they will be out for as long as it takes until they can get a fair deal from both the CLPE and the Ford government.
“We’re not just fighting for ourselves, we’re fighting for the people that we support,” Mayer explained.
“We have been underfunded, we have been working short-staffed, we’ve been in many forced doubles (shifts), which is not acceptable. We need the funding in our sector, so we can get the staffing and provide safe levels within the home. They deserve the best versions of ourselves.”
People will be striking until 4 p.m. Monday afternoon, before returning outside Loyalist dorms Tuesday.
