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"The employers and the Ministry both need to realize that this sector is at a cross roads, one where all stakeholders can agree to work together to solve the systemic issues they face or where the service will continue to slip backwards and fail one of societies most vulnerable groups," says OPSEU/NUPGE.
Toronto (8 April 2011) - On the heels of a provincial budget that refused to recognize the urgent needs of the chronically under-funded developmental services sector, the Ontario Public Service Employees' Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) has launched a letter-writing campaign to pressure the Minister of Finance to do the right thing.
Members are encouraged to go to the union website to send a letter to Minister Dwight Duncan to demand that the province commit to funding quality services now. A copy of this letter will also go to the Minister of Community and Social Services, Madeleine Meilleur.
Developmental services workers in community-based agencies provide professional care to people with developmental disabilities through programs designed to enrich their lives in every way possible. The work they do is varied, providing life skills and other training; support with basic personal tasks; and administering medications. Developmental services workers provide support to individuals in community residences and in their own homes.
Bargaining in this sector has, historically, been difficult due to the lack of funding the agencies receive from the province to provide services in the community. The majority of workers in developmental services are women, most of whom work part-time. Many still do not have pensions or benefits.
Members were hopeful that, during this round of negotiations, there might be more positive movement than in the past. The unions representing workers in the sector, along with the employers met, for the first time ever, to negotiate at a central bargaining table.
In early April, the talks broke off with the parties realizing that work needed to be done around funding for the sector.
"The employers and the Ministry both need to realize that this sector is at a cross roads, one where all stakeholders can agree to work together to solve the systemic issues they face or where the service will continue to slip backwards and fail one of societies most vulnerable groups," says OPSEU/NUPGE.
This campaign hopes to keep the pressure on the government to do the right thing and urgently improve services and funding to this sector. Members hope the pressure will also get the parties back to the table to negotiate a fair collective agreement.
NUPGE
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
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