On Thursday, October 23, OPSEU/SEFPO and CUPE Ontario community and social services workers and allies took our fight straight to the Ford government at Queen’s Park!
Workers in the coordinated bargaining campaign are fighting to secure stable, long-term funding that invests in community and social services and finally provides workers meaningful wage increases. Years after Bill 124 was repealed, tens of thousands of workers are still waiting for wage justice after their wages were capped under the legislation that was found to be unconstitutional.
Workers brought the heat from 9am, kicking the day off with a news conference to share stories about how Bill 124 and the chronic underfunding of their services have had crushing impacts on them and the people they support.
Speakers at the conference included:
- JP Hornick, OPSEU/SEFPO President
- Fred Hahn, CUPE Ontario President
- Juanita Forde, developmental services worker and Chair of CUPE Ontario’s Social Services Workers Coordinating Committee
- Cindy Mazan, developmental services worker and OPSEU/SEFPO member
- Keenan Alywin, harm reduction worker and CUPE Ontario member
- Chrisy Tremblay, child welfare worker and Chair of OPSEU/SEFPO’s Children’s Aid sector
The morning continued with workers packing the gallery at Queen’s Park for question period where Ministers were questioned about the chronic underfunding of community and social services and why they haven’t given workers what they are owed.
In the afternoon, hundreds of community and social services workers and allies filled the streets of downtown Toronto, marching to the doorsteps of the Ministries responsible for delivering the critical services workers provide. Energy was high as we made ourselves seen and heard!
OPSEU/SEFPO First Vice-President/Treasurer Laurie Nancekivell and CUPE Ontario Secretary-Treasurer Yolanda McClean MC’ed the Ministry Tour and March, hearing from frontline workers from both unions outside each Ministry stop:
- Fiona Barr, worker in Ontario Works and President of CUPE Local 1287 spoke in front of the Ministry of Labour.
- Rebecca Madrid, community development and education worker and President of CUPE Local 1813, spoke in front of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.
- Jeff Tynes, youth corrections worker and chair of OPSEU/SEFFPO’s BPS Corrections Sector spoke in front of the Ministry of the Attorney General.
- Tannis McGinn, chair of OPSEU/SEFPO’s Child Treatment Sector, spoke at our final stop before Queen’s Park – the Ministry of Health.
And finally, we ended in front of Queen’s Park where JP Hornick, OPSEU/SEFPO President and Fred Hahn, CUPE Ontario President wrapped up the day.
Next up for the campaign? The fight for funding continues!
To date, more than 30 bargaining units provincewide from both unions have taken strike mandate votes and dozens more are planned in the coming weeks.
Workers are united and showing that they are willing to take coordinated action unless the Ford government steps up to finally give community and social services the long-term funding increases workers and communities deserve.
Workers and communities are WORTH FIGHTING FOR!
Take action at worthfightingfor.ca