Yesterday, community health care workers at the South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC) rallied to demand that their employer address the severe underfunding and understaffing crisis at the centre.

After more than eight months at the bargaining table, SRCHC management still refuses to offer members of CUPE 5399 a real wage increase.

For years, community health care workers at the centre have experienced extremely stressful working conditions, battling a crisis in staffing and impossibly high workload. The SRCHC is a cherished health and community care hub where social workers, registered dietitians, physiotherapists, clerical, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and community health workers provide essential health care and social and community outreach services to Toronto’s east-end residents. 

Members of CUPE 5399, which represents over 120 health care workers at SRCHC, voted 92 per cent in favour of strike action if concrete measures are not taken to improve their ability to better serve the residents who rely on them. If a deal cannot be reached, the local will hit the picket line on November 1.

Members of Local 5399 and community allies rallied in front of the centre, where CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn, OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick, as well as SRCHC and Regent Park community health care workers spoke.

“The workers of South Riverdale have spoken loud and clear, and now it’s crunch time. SRCHC is sleepwalking its way towards a strike, but everyone knows how these matters get resolved: with more money for workers. Services at SRCHC are already deeply affected by low wages, which are at the root of high staff turnover and the centre’s inability to hire and keep staff. The members of CUPE 5399 want to be able to afford to work at the jobs they love, the jobs that support the community of South Riverdale. They need a partner in their employer, and they need the Ford government to step up with proper funding for community health services,” said Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario.

Workers are asking members of the public to send a message of support: cupe.on.ca/fairwagesforsrchc.