Homes First Society

After months of bargaining, Homes First shelter workers have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new collective agreement! Thanks to the solidarity of the 700+ members, and the tireless efforts of the organizing committee and the Bargaining Team, workers achieved a 13% wage increase from 2022-2024, along with a signing bonus and improvements to benefits, shift...

TORONTO – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas says management at Homes First, which operates homeless shelters in Toronto, is putting clients, workers and the public at risk of COVID-19 by withholding crucial information about infections. “It’s time for Homes First Executive Director Patricia Mueller to start putting people first,” said Thomas. “We all know from...

TORONTO – As a Toronto homeless shelter reports that a worker has tested positive for COVID-19, OPSEU is urging that the Chief Medical Officer provide the same protections to community social service workers that he’s granting health care workers. “This virus doesn’t care about job titles,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “If your work...