OTTAWA – Mental health and social service workers, members of CUPE 3942, protested stalled contract talks outside a Salus Corporation board meeting on Monday, Aug. 28, 2006.
“The message to management is loud and clear,” said CUPE National President Paul Moist who joined the protest. “Back away from concession demands.”
CUPE represents 60 full-time and part-time workers at Salus Corporation, including counsellors, occupational therapists, caseworkers and residential property managers for people living with severe and long-term mental illnesses.
“We are facing uncertainty with the arrival of LHINs (local health integration networks) in Ontario, and we need a fair contract that respects the work we do and provides some job security,” said Paul Boileau, chair of the negotiating committee.
“Instead of listening to our concerns, management has demanded a long list of concessions, essentially backing us into a corner,” he added.
The workers will enter conciliation talks on Sept. 7 to try to avert a strike or lockout.