Gilbert Centre workers make sure that people experiencing homelessness and precarious housing in Simcoe-Muskoka have somewhere warm to go in the winter and cool in the summer. They distribute life-saving Harm Reduction supplies and Naloxone to lower the potential risks associated with using drugs. These workers provide services and supports for people living with HIV, create community spaces for 2S-LGBTQ+ youth and older adults, and offer education around safer drug use and sex work.
Gilbert Centre workers unionized two years ago because they wanted to improve their workplace and the services they offer. They’re looking for living wages that will keep them out of poverty, benefits that will keep them safe and healthy, and assurances that their jobs will be there for them through recall and bumping rights.
These workers believe in what they do, and they believe that every human deserves care and support. They know that they provide much-needed community services. But the Board of Directors is treating it like a business, cutting hours and corners, harming workers, and putting community members’ lives at risk.
The employer needs to stop playing games with critical community programs. Tell Gilbert Centre to offer its workers a fair deal that allows them to live and work with dignity while dedicating themselves to caring for our communities’ most marginalized.