With the dissolution of the Region of Peel quickly approaching, workers are worried that their jobs and services will not be protected and are calling on the region’s council to join in their advocacy, said members of CUPE 966 during deputations in front of council today.
“Not knowing what lies ahead is always at the back of my mind,” said Michelle Eagle, a public health worker and member of CUPE 966, in her deputation. “Will I have a job? How will all this affect my family and those of my friends and peers? Should we hold off on future plans?”
The plan to break up the Region of Peel, made up of Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon in 2025 does not provide many details on the impacts on jobs and the services municipal workers deliver, says the union. The union points out that some services are shared across the region and there has been no clarity on exactly how they will be managed following the dissolution. The union points out that not only is there a possibility of job loss and loss of services – some of their jobs might even be privatized.
“Right now, the long-term care facility I work for is public,” said Manpreet Gill, an activation therapist and member of CUPE 966. “But with the dissolution of Peel there are some very real worries that the delivery of LTC could be privatized, impacting our working conditions and also the level of care elders have come to depend on.”
The workers giving deputations emphasized their concerns about the lack of transparency and the process. “We’re completely in the dark about what’s coming,” said Pauline Gordon, a TransHelp driver and member of CUPE 966. “We know that Peel will be broken up in 2025 but we don’t know what that means for our jobs.”
Despite the challenges, the union is hopeful that continued organizing can mean good jobs and services are protected.
“I may only be just one person from my unit here today, but I can tell you I’m not alone,” said Michelle Oldham, a payments and revenues officer in the Human Services Department and member of CUPE 966. “We’re all asking you, Region of Peel council, to be our ally in protecting our jobs and services that residents rely on and in getting more transparency from the transition board from the province. We, both as workers and some as residents, deserve this.”