Workers at Kennedy House are facing escalating employer intimidation and pressure – including the threat of a lockout.
From the start of negotiations, members of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 361 have been clear about their priorities: health and safety, respect on the job, and protections against contracting out. These are not frills – they are the conditions that ensure safety for workers, stability for youth, and reliable, experienced staffing.
Instead of addressing these issues at the bargaining table, management is pressuring workers into accepting a deal that doesn’t address these critical priorities. Workers put forward concrete proposals in bargaining including establishing a health and safety committee to identify and put in place solutions to address increasing incidents of workplace violence and safety issues.
Instead, management has filed for a No Board report to get the power to lock workers out and have requested that the Ministry of Labour conduct a forced “last offer” vote.
Kennedy House management needs to come to the table and negotiate with workers – and when they do, health and safety must be a priority. These workers deserve respect. What they are asking for are basic protections – including limits on contracting out and ensuring that bargaining unit members are prioritized for overtime over agency staff. This is also critical to providing consistency and stability for youth.
At this time a lockout – which would be disruptive for the youth our members work with – is completely unnecessary. The employer can still come to the table to address these very real concerns and work with us to fight for better not just for our members, but for the youth and community we care for.
The work that OPSEU/SEFPO Local 361 members do is important. Workers provide important support that ensures safety and well-being for vulnerable youth. They deserve a fair agreement, good working conditions, and job protections.