These workers care deeply about their communities; they want to continue providing the support that vulnerable clients need. But their employer would rather demand claw-backs and issue threats than recognize their value.Timmins Press Article– OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick
Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 631 president Maggie Wakeford says talks broke down over concessions being demanded by the employer. She says management is only offering a three-percent raise, while demanding a four-percent concession to pay for the long-term disability plan, and 6.9% towards pensions.My Kaphearst Now Article
“Wakeford scoffs at the notion of CMHA managers being able to serve 1,600 clients during the lockout, says the union is willing to return to negotiations, and urges management to make it happen.”Timmins Press Letter to the Editor
Client safety is being put at risk for what amounts to a minimal cost to the employer…[the CMHA] paid out a 39% salary increase to its Executive Director, Paul Jalbert, between 2020 and 2023. With a ratio of roughly one manager to seven staff, it’s clear CMHA-CT can afford to treat its workers fairly, rather than growing its managerial ranks and financial reserves.CTV News Northern Ontario Article
“I’ve been here 30 years in October. I’ve never been locked out of my workplace. This is devastating for the members and our clients…Now we have absolutely no access to our clients. So they’re going to take a big hit on this; their mental health is going to suffer and it’s a shame because all we want is a fair contract.”Timmins Today– OPSEU/SEFPO Local 631 President Maggie Wakeford
Never in my wildest dreams would I think I would be locked out by my employer…I love the job that we do. The people we serve need us so much, now more than ever since the pandemic, and this is just bad for them.North Bay Nuggest Article– Joelle Gauthier, 33 year CMHA- CT employee
CBC News Article“Wakeford said the amalgamation of [the CMHA-CT, South Cochrane Addictions Services, and Minto Counselling Centre] was not ‘ministry-driven,’ but was motivated by the three executive directors’ need to generate more money that is not benefiting all employees, but is being used to give themselves raises.” “We’ve developed these working relationships with these individuals. Now that it’s gone, how does that impact a client’s family should a crisis arise.” – Dustin Bayley, Local 631 member
“Wakeford noted that Jalbert’s own salary has increased significantly since 2019. According to Ontario’s Sunshine List, he made $118,595 that year. In 2022, Jalbert’s salary was $159,158, which represents a 34 per cent increase over three years…While the employees are locked out, Wakeford said she worries for the 1,600 clients who rely on the CMHA Cochrane-Timiskaming.”
“[OPSEU/SEFPO President JP] Hornick says in the middle of a mental health and opioid crisis, locking out the workers is ‘irresponsible and immoral.'”
“Everybody talks about the increase in mental health issues and we all know, an increase in addiction issues. We need to have an increase in funding from the province, so that we don’t end up fighting this on street corners and people lose, losing possibly their lives.”Mid North Monitor Article– John Vanthof, MPP Timiskaming-Cochrane (NDP)
“We just want to be able to afford the same pension they can afford. Paul Jalbert, our executive director, received a $46,000 raise in three years. He’s offering us 2.5 (per cent wage increase) in two years.”Timmins Today Article– OPSEU/SEFPO Local 631 President Maggie Wakeford
“They’re paying two other executive directors hefty money so that money is going top heavy instead of where it should be going—to the members.”– Dustin Bayley, Local 631 member
“We’ve had a lot of clients come to our line, so we definitely hear how that’s affecting them. They are struggling, and they are finding it not as easy to get the support that the management and the employer is offering during our absence. It’s just not enough…They’re not getting the support they need. One individual came back to our line and said that he had trouble with literacy, so he couldn’t read the pamphlet he was given. Another individual was given an option that doesn’t work for him, so unfortunately, the support isn’t being offered to them. We want to get back to supporting them, getting the support that they require. Some individuals may have relapsed with their addictions, some have become homeless, so we want to get back to that.”
– Kelly Brunet, Local 631 communications steward
CBC Sudbury Article“My fear is, as this lockout continues, I’m not going to be getting the support…I’m going to end up going backwards in my plan, not forward.”
– client at CMHA Cochrane-Timiskaming
“Liznick-Voyer worries about high-risk individuals who might turn to other coping mechanisms, like drugs and alcohol, without regular access to mental health services. ‘People’s lives are at stake and you can’t just shake it off…when you’re in the middle of a crisis, you think you’re alone — you’re in a dark place and you don’t value yourself.'”– client at CMHA Cochrane-Timiskaming