Today, workers at Central West Specialized Developmental Services are mourning the tragic loss of life of a beloved client.
For weeks, workers have been raising alarms over unsafe and unsanitary conditions inside of facilities at 53 Bond Street. In September, management forcibly relocated residents with developmental disabilities from their group homes to crowded central facilities, which created high stress and dangerous conditions for clients and workers.
“We have raised our concerns to management again and again. We raised these issues to the board again and again. We’ve called on the Government to act,” shared Julie Geiss, Local President of Local 249. “They have all failed to take action necessary to ensure dignity for workers and our clients, and now our greatest fear has come true.”
In November, workers went on strike for fair and dignified conditions. Since then, workers have continued to raise alarm about worsening conditions, including frequent ambulance calls to 53 Bond Street and reports of residents left sitting in soiled briefs for extended periods, without adequate care and with increased stress and behavioral issues that jeopardize safety and well-being.
“It is entirely on management to end this situation. Any loss of life is blood on their hands,” said JP Hornick, OPSEU/SEFPO President. “CEO Patricia Kyle and the Board must act immediately and get residents back to their homes and bring skilled, dedicated workers back to work where they belong.”
Workers will hold a candlelight vigil this evening at 6:00 pm in front of 53 Bond St to honour their client’s memory and to call for immediate action.
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Media contact: Jolene Cushman, OPSEU/SEFPO Communications, (416) 518-2368, [email protected],