Walkout began March 22
Negotiations between the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and Community Living Campbellford/Brighton failed to produce a deal March 29, meaning about 100 workers in Local 316 remain on strike.
“We worked so hard to ensure we could reach a settlement today,” said Richard Bradley, OPSEU staff representative. “We provided the employer with a variety of examples of existing contract language in the sector that we would agree to, but they wouldn’t move.”
The employer’s final offer was rejected by 86 per cent of the membership in a vote on March 21, initiating the strike on March 22.
Key issues on the bargaining table are the employer’s demand that staff use their personal vehicles as a condition of their employment, a requirement that has raised significant concerns about liability and health and safety. The employer also refused to improve the “substandard wage package” being offered, said Bradley.
The workers are predominantly women and are determined to negotiate a fair contract. Improvements to their working conditions mean improved care for the people needing care, according to the union.
No date is set for further negotiations.
