Simcoe County has locked out almost 200 municipal support staff and social assistance workers.
“We are shocked the employer would resort to such an extreme measure,” says Robert Penrose, president of CUPE Local 2710. “The county was changing the locks on the doors before workers had even voted on their latest offer.”
The locked out workers belong to CUPE Local 2710, which represents 142 social service workers and CUPE Local 3110, which represents 54 inside and outside municipal workers. Simcoe county is located in central Ontario.
“There is so much unfairness here,” says Penrose. “Front-line staff are overworked and fed up. Staff levels are down, except for managers and they are being rewarded with fat raises.”
Workers have been offered increases of 2.5 per cent each year for three years while managers have seen their income jump by 27 to 40 per cent.