University Settlement is a charity with a more than hundred-year history of building strong communities in Toronto. But all is not right with their own staff – and in a resounding show of solidarity, workers voted 96% in favour of striking if management refuses to address long simmering issues.
63 members of CUPE 2998.01 – representing 75% of the settlement and employment counsellors, early childhood educators, recreation program staff, music teachers, senior service workers, and others – voted in favour of job action, sending a clear message that they stand behind their bargaining team.
University Settlement workers hold very diverse roles. Settlement counsellors support newcomers and low-income residents, helping recent immigrants and convention refugees connect with social programs, jobs, schools, and healthcare, and assisting clients to develop new skills, earn certifications, and find work. Music teachers offer top-quality classes to students who can’t afford private lessons elsewhere. And recreation and daycare workers are a linchpin in the community.
Across all departments, though, two things are common: these workers pride themselves on serving a community in need; and they themselves are in desperate need of a fair wage.
“We remove barriers and help communities thrive. But we are not thriving,” explained Jun Zhang, a settlement counsellor of more than 15 years and bargaining unit chair for CUPE 2998.01. “My salary has gone up just $4.67 since I started in 2008. The people I help get jobs that pay more than my own.”
University Settlement workers offer the kind of community services that the federal government and City of Toronto say they want to prioritize to ensure newcomers and low-income families can build lives in the city. Yet many of the workers can’t afford to live in the communities they support.
Sarah Iles has been a voice teacher at University Settlement for seven years. Her tenure will soon end. She resigned weeks ago, chased out of a job she loves but can’t afford to work. Music teachers at other non-profits in the city earn $50 an hour. Toronto’s rent crisis means workers need to earn $40 an hour. Iles, despite impressive professional credentials, earns under $25 an hour.
“I started singing lessons here myself as a child. I loved it and wanted to give back. I deeply believe that music and arts programs should be available to everyone, and I’ve watched hard-working students flourish,” said Iles. “We serve a community that deserves these enriching opportunities now more than ever after decades of cuts in the public school system. But the 100-year-old music school won’t survive much longer when qualified teachers can’t make even close to a living wage working here.”
The two sides have met seven times. The bargaining unit and employer will resume negotiations January 10.