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Toronto—Developmental services workers and clients are suffering increasing incidents of violence, bullying and health risks, says a new independent study conducted by McMaster University researchers.

Entitled Improving Work Organization to Reduce Injury and Illness: Social Services, Stress, Violence and Workload, the study was funded by the Workers Safety Insurance Board after the agency noted the alarmingly high rates of work-related injuries by workers in the sector.

The research, which focuses on the experience of counsellors who work with people with developmental disabilities at three-sites in Ontario, will be released at a Queens Park (Media Studio) media conference on Wednesday, October 16 at 11:30 a.m.

Those attending the media conference include:
  • Donna Baines, McMaster University, Professor, Institute for Work in a Global Society, and principal researcher;
  • Sid Ryan, Ontario President the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
  • Gwen Miller, Counsellor, Developmental Services, Fort Frances
  • Fred Hahn, Counsellor, Developmental Services, Toronto
CUPE represents 5,000 developmental services workers province-wide. The study findings will be presented to CUPE members from the sector attending the annual social service workers conference in Sudbury beginning on Friday, October 18.

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For more information please contact:
Donna Baines, McMaster University
(905) 525-9140
Sid Ryan, President CUPE Ontario
(416) 209-0066
Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications
(416) 578-8774