BRAMPTON, ON – Members of CUPE Local 966, part of 700 long-term care workers in the Region of Peel, Ontario, chanted in front of the Peel Region Head Office on December 15, to mark the 18th anniversary battle for their rights to equal pay.
The long-term care facilities members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 966 have been underpaid for the past 18 years because they are mostly women. “In many of our long-term care (LTC) facilities, we had a pay equity plan in place, but the Region has not acted on it, even after we won a decision before the Ontario Pay Equity Tribunal in 1992,” said Mary-Jo Falle, president of CUPE Local 966.
“The public can participate and support our effort by coming to the Peel Region Offices at 10 Peel Centre Drive to voice their outrage to councillors coming to their regular meeting,” she added.
CUPE 966 has published a Website on the battle with examples of the work their members face every day by serving elderly clients. In the section “Take Action”, you can find your representative on the Peel Region Council and inquire about their position about this pay equity plan for their workers.
- View four videos and blogs of workers explaining some of their issues
“Enough is enough, we want pay equity now” chanted the group with flags and candles in front of the Peel Region Offices at 10 Peel Centre Drive last night. Peel Councillors are participating in their first public meeting today and they will be reminded of this issue. It is unconceivable that a public government is not following the law and is treating women as second class employees,” concluded Mary-Jo Falle, president of CUPE 966.
For more information, contact:
Mary-Jo Falle
President of CUPE 966
905-502-6599
Helen Gibb-Gavel
CUPE National Representative
905-242-4207 (cell)
Christian Martel
CUPE Communications
647-270-6775 (cell)