On October 1, 2020, the Ontario government announced a temporary wage increase for all Personal Support Workers (PSWs) and Direct Support Workers (DSWs). In recognition of the vital work our PSWs and DSWs are doing to support Ontarians through this pandemic, OPSEU/SEFPO’s leadership has decided that the union will not collect dues on this pay increase.
The pay increase being given to PSWs and DSWs will have a significant and positive impact on these frontline workers. They have been providing vital care to Ontario’s most vulnerable, at great risk to themselves and to their families, and we want to make sure that our members see as much of this hard-fought raise as possible.
OPSEU/SEFPO is known for having dues that are among the lowest of any large union in Canada. We avoid collecting any more dues than are necessary to support our members. We didn’t collect dues on pandemic pay, and we won’t be collecting dues on this well-deserved raise either.
The dedication of our PSWs and DSWs to providing quality care during this time has been remarkable. We commend the government for taking this step forward, acknowledging the importance of the work that PSWs and DSWs do.
As stated on the government’s website, this entails a wage increase of:
- $3 per hour for approximately 38,000 eligible workers in home and community care.
- $3 per hour for approximately 50,000 eligible workers in long-term care.
- $2 per hour for approximately 12,300 eligible workers in public hospitals
- $3 per hour for approximately 47,000 eligible workers in children, community and social services providing personal direct support services for the activities of daily living.
PSWs and DSWs have been overworked and underpaid for years. This move by the government is long overdue, and OPSEU/SEFPO will fight to ensure that it becomes more than just ‘temporary’.
In solidarity,
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU/SEFPO President
Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, OPSEU/SEFPO First Vice-President/Treasurer