Tag: Dignity is not optional

• OPSEU President: autism cuts and privatization are a ‘new low’ for the Ford government

  Toronto – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas says the Ford government is trying to score cheap political points on the backs of families who have children with autism. “I’m not the only one who thinks so,” said Thomas. “Kitchener MPP Amy Fee helped announce the government’s terrible scheme to cut and privatize autism services. But…

  February 6, 2019

  Campaigns, Media

  Dignity is not optional, Media release

• June 20: Let’s celebrate developmental services!

  OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas released this message today to all members of OPSEU Sector 2 to mark Developmental Services Appreciation Day. Dear friends: Today is Developmental Services Appreciation Day. On behalf of the 155,000 members of this great union, I want to thank you for your commitment and your compassion. You make life better…

  June 20, 2018

  Campaigns, Events

  Dignity is not optional

• Rallies across province aim to ‘Raise the Bar’ for developmental services

  The people who provide developmental services will be rallying in communities across the province tomorrow, pressuring community agencies and the provincial government to address the inadequate funding and precarious working conditions that put the entire system at risk. “The government knows the developmental services system needs a massive overhaul, but it is refusing to act,”…

  April 4, 2018

  Campaigns, Media

  Dignity is not optional, Media release

• Ontario’s response to people with developmental disabilities “a cruel hoax”

  TORONTO – The Ontario government’s announcement that waitlists are eliminated for people with developmental disabilities receiving services at home obscures a deeper problem, according to the union that represents about 12,000 developmental service workers. Ontario Public Service Employees Union President Warren (Smokey) Thomas said in reality developmental services in Ontario are in a crisis of…

  Andy Pedersen

  April 1, 2015

  Campaigns, Media

  Dignity is not optional, Media release

• Developmental Services Bargaining Bulletin #4 – December 2014

  Provincial framework for local negotiations announced OPSEU has called it a first step toward creating stability for developmental services workers and the people they support. It's a provincial framework for implementing wage increases and for resolving long-term and structural problems in the sector. Wage increase funds promised by the Ontario Government for frontline workers will…

  Andy Pedersen

  December 22, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns

  Dignity is not optional, Newsletter

• Developmental services framework is start of stability for workers and people they support

  (Toronto) – Recommendations agreed to by unions and employers in Ontario’s developmental services sector were endorsed over the weekend by the Ministry of Community and Social Services. It’s the first step toward creating desperately-needed stability for workers and the people they support, said the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). “We are happy to announce…

  Andy Pedersen

  December 22, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Dignity is not optional, Media release

• Employer survey backs up need for higher wages, stable earnings for developmental services workers

  An employer group polled developmental services agencies across Ontario about pressures on their operations. A big one: recruiting and retaining staff when wages are so low and hours are unstable. It's bad for workers, bad for the people they support, and ultimately, bad for the agencies. More info here. Download the

  Andy Pedersen

  December 15, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns

  Dignity is not optional

• Cornwall action planned to back provincial talks on wages and jobs for DS

  (Cornwall) – Workers who provide care and support for people with developmental disabilities say unstable conditions in the sector must change, and employers have an opportunity to make that happen in discussions this week with unions in the sector.  OPSEU members have planned actions in towns and cities across Ontario to show employers they are…

  Andy Pedersen

  December 11, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Dignity is not optional, Media release

• Thunder Bay action planned to back provincial talks on wages and jobs for DS

  (Thunder Bay) – Workers who provide care and support for people with developmental disabilities say unstable conditions in the sector must change, and employers have an opportunity to make that happen in discussions this week with unions in the sector.  OPSEU members have planned actions in towns and cities across Ontario to show employers they…

  Andy Pedersen

  December 11, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Dignity is not optional, Media release

• Midland action planned to back provincial talks on wages and jobs for DS

  (Midland) – Workers who provide care and support for people with developmental disabilities say unstable conditions in the sector must change, and employers have an opportunity to make that happen in discussions this week with unions in the sector.  OPSEU members have planned actions in towns and cities across Ontario to show employers they are…

  Andy Pedersen

  December 11, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Dignity is not optional, Media release

• Toronto action planned to back provincial talks on wages and jobs for DS

  (Toronto) – Workers who provide care and support for people with developmental disabilities say unstable conditions in the sector must change, and employers have an opportunity to make that happen in discussions this week with unions in the sector.  OPSEU members have planned actions in towns and cities across Ontario to show employers they are…

  Andy Pedersen

  December 11, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Dignity is not optional, Media release

• Barry’s Bay action planned to back provincial talks on wages and jobs for DS

  (Barry's Bay) – Workers who provide care and support for people with developmental disabilities say unstable conditions in the sector must change, and employers have an opportunity to make that happen in discussions this week with unions in the sector.  OPSEU members have planned actions in towns and cities across Ontario to show employers they…

  Andy Pedersen

  December 11, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Dignity is not optional, Media release

• Kingston action planned to back provincial talks on wages and jobs for DS

  (Kingston) – Workers who provide care and support for people with developmental disabilities say unstable conditions in the sector must change, and employers have an opportunity to make that happen in discussions this week with unions in the sector.  OPSEU members have planned actions in towns and cities across Ontario to show employers they are…

  Andy Pedersen

  December 10, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Dignity is not optional, Media release

• Provincial talks this week must yield change for some of Ontario’s lowest-paid workers

  (Toronto) – Workers who provide care and support for people with developmental disabilities say unstable conditions in the sector must change, and employers have an opportunity to make that happen in discussions this week with unions in the sector.  “Employers can’t recruit or retain skilled, professional workers because of the low pay and unstable hours…

  Andy Pedersen

  December 10, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns, Media

  Dignity is not optional, Media release

• Did Premier Wynne get your postcard?

  Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has been getting a lot of these

  Andy Pedersen

  December 9, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns

  Dignity is not optional

• Union aims for better pay, good jobs in Dec. 11 and 12 talks

  Have you seen this developmental services bargaining 2014 poster on your workplace bulletin board? If not, you can print it and post it! OPSEU is in provincial talks with employers for good jobs, decent pay, and real change for frontline workers and the people you support.

  Andy Pedersen

  December 9, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns

  Dignity is not optional

• “Isn’t it time the bosses tried something new?”

  Unstable jobs, part-time hours and low pay cause high turnover of developmental services workers. Good jobs and decent pay lead to continuity of care for people with intellectual disabilities. Isn't it time the bosses tried something new?

  Andy Pedersen

  December 9, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns

  Dignity is not optional

• Stay in touch

  Here are key contacts for developmental services workers who are OPSEU members. Collective agreements for most of them expired in 2014.  Mobilizers Contact List Email the Bargaining team – DSbargaining@gmail.com Your Sector Executive  Contact information and general email opseu.sector2@gmail.com Visit our Blog Because We Care Facebook:  Follow us, like us, and join the discussion on facebook…

  Andy Pedersen

  December 9, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns

  Dignity is not optional

• Developmental Services Bargaining Bulletin #1 – September 2014

  End the Crisis! Message from the Chair. OPSEU's developmental services workers have fought hard for funding to address the crisis in our sector.  Key bargaining demands Conversion of part-time hours to full-time jobs. End the wage gap. Workers should earn the same no matter where in Ontario they work. Same job, same pay. All workers deserve…

  Andy Pedersen

  December 5, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns

  Dignity is not optional, Newsletter

• Developmental Services Bargaining Bulletin #3 – November 2014

  Discussions to continue for developmental services workers 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 DS workers.  OPSEU, CUPE, and agencies set Dec. 11 and 12 to follow up on discussions that began in October and continued earlier this…

  Andy Pedersen

  November 14, 2014

  Bargaining, Campaigns

  Dignity is not optional, Newsletter