A decision by the Peterborough County Council to keep control of its municipal home for the aged by pumping $25.5 million dollars into a new, 253-bed building is the direct result of a grassroots, community campaign launched by CUPE 131.
The employees of Fairhaven Home for the Aged, northeast of Toronto, can take much of the credit for saving the 40-year old facility, after the Harris government ruled it had to be rebuilt. Not surprisingly, private nursing home operators were lining up in the hopes that council would balk at the cost and Fairhaven’s 250 beds would be “carved up 0061006ed handed over to them.
But Local 131 swung into action with its own plan. With help from CUPE National, they launched the “I’m For Fairhaven 00630061mpaign, enlisting the support of residents, their families, area doctors and even the employer.
Says National Rep. Dave Saunders, “after months of campaigning and lobbying county councillors, it was the strong community support for Fairhaven that won the day. Local 131 president Carolyn Shaughnessy and her members can truly be proud of their achievement.”