Today I had the honour of visiting the strike and picket line with OPSEU Local 249 – CLO L249 Community Living Oakville and OPSEU L262 Local 262 (@opseu_l262) workers at Lynwood Charlton Centre and the March of Dimes in the City of Hamilton. I met Vice President Aimie Kovacsik and many others like Patty, Amanda, Leanne, and countless others who are striking in solidarity for fair wages and workers’ rights.
These are the workers who support children, youth, families, and people in crisis – and they deserve more than praise. They deserve fair wages, safe staffing, respect, and the resources needed to do their jobs well.
Community and social service workers are often expected to hold together systems that are underfunded, overstretched, and relied on by some of the most vulnerable people in our city. When those workers are forced to strike, we should all be paying attention.
Bill 124 was devastating for workers. It suppressed wages, undermined collective bargaining, and left many frontline community service workers still waiting for the compensation they are owed after years of rising costs and impossible pressures. OPSEU has stated that workers are seeking retroactive pay connected to Bill 124, while nearly 4,000 OPSEU/SEFPO members across 23 bargaining units are on strike or locked out in community and social services.
As a proudly pro-union, working-class candidate, I stand with workers fighting for dignity, fairness, and better public services. Strong communities require strong frontline services -.and strong frontline services require workers who are respected and supported.
The main Hamilton picket line is operating weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Upper Paradise and Mohawk Road West Community services are worth fighting for.
If you believe the workers who care for our communities deserve better, please contact your MPP and tell them to properly fund community services, respect frontline workers, and make workers whole.
Solidarity with OPSEU Local 262, Local 249, and all community and social service workers who are worth fighting for.
#HamOnt #CDNPoli #ONPoli #YHMVote #YHMCC
Mentions:
March of Dimes, @worth_fighting_for_campaign, Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), Hamilton & District Labour Council