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Employers report difficulties in attracting and retaining staff due to part-time conditions and low pay.
Toronto (17 Nov. 2014) — Employers and unions in Ontario's developmental services sector have agreed to two days of meetings in December to further discuss province-wide improved standards for developmental services workers.
Developmental services workers push for improved quality of care, stability and continuity of service for people with intellectual disabilities
Members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), and provincial agencies set December 11 and 12 to follow up on discussions that began in October and continued earlier this month.
"The time is now for employers to establish quality, stability, and continuity of service for people with intellectual disabilities," said OPSEU Developmental Services Chair Patti Markland, who is involved in the discussions. "They can't do that with the high turnover of workers who can't make ends meet with low wages and unstable hours."
Lowest-paid workers fighting for improved wages and working conditions
Developmental service workers are among the lowestpaid in Ontario. Two-thirds are part-time or casual, which is about double the rate seen in the overall working population. A province-wide survey of remployers released in September confirms once again that employers can't attract and retain staff with such unstable conditions.
"I want to thank our more than 11,000 members across Ontario, who are remaining strong through this process. They are committed to making significant changes with this round of talks," said Markland.
Collective agreements expired this year for most OPSEU/NUPGE members in the developmental services sector. Members of several locals have given their elected leaders strong mandates to take strike action if necessary.
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The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE