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Aurora - A rally in support of locked out Yellow Brick House shelter and outreach counsellors, will be held tomorrow Tuesday, February 10th at 12:00 noon at 37 Wellington St. East, Aurora. Sid Ryan the Ontario president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) will be a guest speaker at the rally.

Since the 38 front-line staff (members of CUPE Local 3636) and shelter residents were locked out on January 24th, by the agency management and board of directors, there has been a tremendous outpouring of support from people in the community, former shelter residents and our allies in the labour movement.

Women in the community whose lives weve touched, are telling us that the counselling and support we gave them when they were in crisis has been invaluable. They have praised our skill and experience in helping them through difficult times, says Joan Smith the president of Local 3636.

The plight of the locked out counsellors and shelter residents has also resonated with many social service workers in the GTA. The push by the Yellow Brick House management to terminate nine experienced counsellors with social work diplomas and replace them with staff who hold university degrees, has sent a chill in the womens shelter community.

For years, activists in the sector have warned against womens shelters moving to the provision of medical services such as mental health and addiction counselling through a model based on clinical assessment.

  • WHO: Sid Ryan, President CUPE Ontario

  • WHAT: Support Rally for Locked Out Yellow Brick House Womens Shelter Counsellors

  • WHERE: 37 Wellington Street East, Aurora

  • WHEN: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 12:00 noon

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For more information contact:
Sid Ryan, President CUPE Ontario
(416) 209-0066
Joan Smith, President CUPE Local 3636
(416) 505-9603
Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications
(416) 578-8774