A delegation of health care workers will bring a petition to Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie's office today, calling for the Ontario government to offer a fair wage proposal.
CUPE members working in Home and Community Support Services have still not settled their wage reopener negotiations after Bill 124 was overturned. The wage-cap bill that limited the public sector to one per cent increases for three years was deemed unconstitutional by the Superior Court of Justice and repealed in February.
Now the union is demanding the provincial government and Treasury Board come back to the table and negotiate a fair wage increase.
Members of CUPE Local 8916, say they’re struggling to make ends meet with the cost-of-living crisis.
"In real terms, we have taken a serious pay cut over the last several years," said President of CUPE Local 8916 Shaun Steven. "We are sick of the excuses and the delays. Our members work very hard behind the scenes to ensure that members of our community have access to healthcare and support for their needs at home and in community clinics, and we deserve a settlement that takes our hard work and the cost of living into account."
CUPE says over 85 per cent of Local 8916 members signed the petition that will be hand delivered to Dowie at noon.
The union says today's demonstration will be one of eight actions held across the province by CUPE members working in home and community care.