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Facts about the strike at Central West Specialized Developmental Services (CWSDS) 

February 13, 2026
Workers at OPSEU/SEFPO Local 249 – Central West Specialized Developmental Services (CWSDS) have been on strike since November 19, 2025. They did not choose to take strike action lightly. Workers reached this point after the employer’s aggressive actions in bargaining, refusal to meaningfully negotiate, and ongoing workplace conditions that created serious safety concerns for both workers and the people they support. Faced with a lockout situation and worsening conditions, workers chose to take action, standing up for their right to a fair deal and better working conditions.  Workers want to get back to work and back to providing care – in group homes and in community programs that have been closed since management relocated residents. They need their employer to come to the table and make a fair deal NOW, and to end the unsafe conditions. What workers are asking for Workers at Central West Specialized Developmental Services provide critical care and support to adults with developmental disabilities, many of whom have complex care needs. Workers are asking for fair wage increases to help address years of suppressed wages while cost-of-living skyrockets. For many workers, low wages have meant working second or third jobs, accessing foodbanks, or worrying about affording the cost of gas just to get to work.  Wage proposals from the union are at or below recent settlements across developmental services agencies, and remain below inflation. These wage increases are about basic fairness, retention, and long-term stability. Central West Specialized Developmental Services continues to face issues in recruitment and retention, which ultimately affects the care that people receive.  At the bargaining table, the union has reduced its demands to try to get closer to a deal, while management stalls and makes almost no movement at the table. Instead, management has pushed to extend the length of an agreement, and lock workers into more years of wage increases below inflation.  While Patricia Kyle insists CWSDS management has been improving their offer, the changes amount to nothing more than shuffling pennies around. Each offer from the employer actually gives members less and less! Management has spent funding intended for workers, poured millions on consultants, and CEO Patricia Kyle awarded herself a 10% salary increase in a single year! The facts on wages:  
  • The employer has proposed wage increases of 8.25% over 6 years, averaging only 1.38% in wage increases per year. ODSP rates are keeping up better than wages for workers at CWSDS. Patricia Kyle’s salary is certainly keeping up with inflation – why not workers?  
  • The union has proposed wage increase of 12.25% over 6 years, averaging 2.04% wage increase per year. The union continues to offer incredible flexibility, advancing a willingness to negotiate which years those increases apply to, to find a path forward.  
  • The employer claims they have offered an additional $3/hour wage enhancement. A $3/hour wage enhancement for Direct Support Professionals was provided in 2022, through direct funding from the provincial government. The government provided this funding to address a recruitment and retention crisis in the sector that emerged after COVID-19. The government provided Central West with additional funding for classifications previously excluded from the wage increase, yet the employer continues to delay implementing this wage increase every offer. 
Wage increases in other developmental services agencies  The following table shows annual general wage increases received in recent rounds of bargaining for three other developmental services agencies, compared to what CWSDS management is proposing. The employer’s proposal comes after years of no annual increase or 1% wage increases for workers.  
Community Living Walkerton Community Living Bruce Peninsula Community Living Meaford Last offer presented by CWSDS management  
2023 – 4.5% 2024 – 3% 2025 – 2.75% 2023 – 3.5% 2024 – 3% 2025 – 3% 2024 – ~3% 2025 – ~3% 2022 – 0.5% 2023 – 1% 2024 – 1% 2025 – 1.5% 2026 – 2.25% 2027 – 2% 
The employer refuses mediation to settle a deal  OPSEU/SEFPO proposed returning to mediation on February 12 with a seasoned mediator to help reach a deal – a date already held by both parties prior to the strike, for grievance arbitration. The union proposed using that date to mediate a settlement to the strike. The employer refused. At the same time, Patricia Kyle has put out false statements that they offered OPSEU/SEFPO dates for mediation. They have been clear: they will only return to mediation if OPSEU/SEFPO reduces wage proposals yet again. In our last round of mediation, the Employer stalled for hours and returned with an offer of just an additional 0.25% wage increase.   What is CEO Patricia Kyle’s agenda? Why has she allowed this strike to continue for over twelve weeks?  Management, led by CEO Patricia Kyle, has failed to respect workers and prioritize the wellbeing of workers and the people they support. It was management who pushed a strike to happen by putting workers in a lockout position, and management continues to deny or dismiss serious safety incidents, while touting how clients are adapting and thriving.  Workers have put forward reasonable wage increases – increases that are not any higher than other developmental services agencies. Yet, CEO Patricia Kyle has allowed this strike to continue for twelve weeks while failing to make a deal. What agenda does CEO Patricia Kyle have? What is her vision for the future of services and workforce at CWSDS?  OPSEU/SEFPO is calling on the employer to take responsibility, address safety concerns, and return to the table ready to negotiate a fair deal.  

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