Public sector union fights for retroactive increases for Ontario community and social services workers

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says the underfunding of community and social services is pushing workers to the brink.

The union has launched a campaign, calling for fair wages for workers and funding increases to the agencies they work for.

OPSEU President JP Hornick says it is a major issue in contract talks.

“Thousands of OPSEU/SEFPO members in the Worth Fighting For campaign are taking a historic stand, not just for wage justice, but for the future of the services and the care that they provide,” says Hornick.

Hornick says 27 bargaining units have filed no board reports in separate negotiations.

The union wants the government to compensate workers who were impacted by wage-restricting legislation that was eventually declared unconstitutional in the courts.

This led to agreements of retroactive increases for some public sector workers, such as those working in colleges and hospitals.

Hornick says thousands of others are waiting for the same treatment.

“These employers cannot deliver the retroactive wage increases alone,” says Hornick.

“These workers have been at the bargaining table with their employers, and they’ve told them as much that the funding just isn’t there. It’s on Ford to make this right.”

The union notes a $1.5 billion funding shortfall for the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.

The latest provincial budget shows a 2.4% decrease to the Ministry’s allocation over the next year.