The Long-Term Care and Community Services Coordinating Committee is incredibly grateful to our members in community services for their patience and support during the bargaining process and this week, while information about the employer’s latest offer is circulating.
We know members have been waiting for months for this process to be concluded. And we know some of our members have been waiting for years for a wage increase. Workers in community services have been given far too little, for far too long.
That’s why we are ready to fight for what we know our members deserve.
The latest offer from the employer is a direct attack on our solidarity. They want our coordinated efforts in community services to fall apart, so that they can get away with giving workers less.
This offer is full of concessions, it backtracks on several previously negotiated issues, and is an attempt to force us to negotiate two-tier benefits for our members.
We are preparing to respond, and we are planning actions. Community services has been pushed to the side for too long. It’s simply not fair that those doing similar work in other sectors should get something different than our members in DCS. Let’s show them that we are united and that we are motivated!
We are putting together a Call-Your-MLA day as soon as possible and will have more information and instructions for members by the end of this week.
We know you’re tired, we know you’re frustrated, and we know you’re angry—Who wouldn’t be? Let’s turn that anger into collective power. Let’s make sure the employers and this Government hear your frustration loud and clear.
This has been a long, long road. But we want to take this moment to remind members that our goal in coordinated bargaining was to have strength in our solidarity. This is the first time in history that this Sector has shown government that they will just not accept “leftovers” from the Acute Care or Long-Term Care Sectors.
You deserve better!
It isn’t right that you don’t make the same wage as others doing similar work in other sectors. It isn’t right that you don’t have the same pension as your fellow members in this sector. It isn’t right that the employer is attempting to cause division among the locals by backtracking in their offer and dragging out bargaining even longer.
They’re hoping we get tired. They’re hoping we give in. We won’t.
We encourage members to remain steadfast in your demands, and firm in your solidarity. We can’t let them win. We’ve been in this together for years, let’s finish it together.
PLEASE watch out for updates at your Local membership meetings, on CUPE’s or your local’s websites or Facebook pages, or from the Long-Term Care and Community Services Coordinating Committee or myself, the DCS coordinator.