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“Our members haven’t been given an exemption from inflation, the cost of living hasn't stood still for them." — Warren Thomas, OPSEU President
Renfrew (02 Nov. 2018) — Developmental services workers in Renfrew and Arnprior have given a strong strike mandate to their bargaining team in their fight for a decent wage offer.
OPSEU/NUPGE members send message that wages must rise
Members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) Local 472 have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike. Their bargaining team has filed for conciliation.
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President, says the strike vote sends a clear message to their employer.
“Our members haven’t been given an exemption from inflation, the cost of living hasn't stood still for them," said Thomas. “If this employer or anyone else thinks that they have a free ticket to shortchange our members because Doug Ford is talking about cutting deficits, they have another thing coming."
Wage freezes have workers falling behind counterparts in Ontario
Shannon Waddell, OPSEU Local 472 President, says the employer is ignoring a historic wrong.
“For years, our members’ pay was frozen, causing them to fall behind developmental services workers in other parts of Ontario. That can’t continue. It’s just not right," said Waddell.
OPSEU Local 472 represents workers who provide residential services, community support and respite to people with developmental disabilities. The collective agreement for the 87 full- and part-time workers expired March 31, 2018.