Message to members of Local 249 – Central West Specialized Developmental Services Local 249 – Central West Specialized Developmental Services
Dear members,
Your bargaining team came to the table today ready to negotiate a fair deal. We care deeply about the people we support and do not want to see a disruption in services. However, for 41 days, we’ve been in a lockout position, and the situation has become untenable. We need a fair deal that respects the critical work we do.
At the start of the day, the bargaining team put forward a proposal to the Employer with fair wage increases, and a path forward to ensure a return to the working conditions that allow us to do our jobs and reverse reprisals against our members since the employer first requested the No Board.
We were hopeful that we could achieve a deal today with the support of a third-party mediator. Instead, the Employer came back with a proposal with little changes to the offer that members rejected multiple times, other than a longer expiry date and a modest change to co-pay on benefits.
After a full day of mediation and no meaningful movement from our employer – on wages, benefits, working conditions, or reprisals against members – we have no choice but to take action and withdraw our labour.
Effective immediately, we are initiating a strike.
We call on all members currently working to contact their managers or supervisor to notify them that we are withdrawing our labour immediately. This is a legal strike action. After a manager or sufficient agency staff are on site, exit and join the picket line in front of 53 Bond Street. We will be picketing until 7:00 pm. A hybrid townhall will be held at 8 pm online and at the Hamilton OPSEU/SEFPO Regional Office.
In solidarity,
The Local 249 Bargaining Team