MEDIA ADVISORY: Workers & Families Can’t Wait: Home and community health care workers to deliver petition to MPP Todd McCarthy urging PC government to offer a fair wage proposal

Event Information

Begins: 13 May 2024
Location: Bowmanville, ON

Home care workers say that it’s time for the Ford Government and the Treasury Board to come back to the table with a real offer! 

BOWMANVILLE, ON –(COMMUNITYWIRE)– On Monday a delegation of home and community health care workers will deliver a petition signed by a strong majority of the local’s members to Durham Conservative MPP Todd McCarthy, demanding that the Ontario government and the Treasury Board come back to the table and negotiate a fair wage increase. 

CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) members working in Home and Community Support Services (HCCSS) have not yet settled their wage reopener negotiations after Bill 124 was overturned.  The bill capped salary increases for broader public sector workers at one per cent a year, for three years.  

Members of CUPE Local 3313 working in home and community care say they’re struggling to make ends meet with the cost-of-living crisis.  

“Our wages do not reflect the difficult and important work we do,” said Clare Aitken, Vice President of CUPE Local 3313 Whitby Branch. “Our work keeps people out of hospitals and in their homes. This used to be a great job, but now our wages have fallen so far behind the cost of living that it’s hard for workers in HCCSS to get by. Our access care teams receive thousands of calls on a daily basis. We triage folks who are leaving hospitals and make sure they have proper care at home, which frees up hospital beds that are desperately needed across the province.” 

Over 75 per cent of CUPE Local 3313 members signed the petition calling on the government to come back to the table.  

HCCSS workers include nurses, personal support workers, IT and administrative support, occupational and physiotherapists and other healthcare workers who are committed to providing the care that Ontarians need.  

Friday will be the second of eight actions held across the province by CUPE members working in home and community care.    

WHAT:
Workers and Families Can’t Wait Campaign: Health care workers to deliver petition signatures to PC MPP Todd McCarthy’s office. 

 WHO:
Home and community health care workers, Vice President of CUPE Local 3313 Whitby Branch Claire Aitken. 

 WHERE:
PC MPP Todd McCarthy office, 23 King Street West, Bowmanville, ON. 

 WHEN:
Monday May 13, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.   

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For media inquiries, contact: 

Shannon Carranco, CUPE Communications
scarranco@cupe.ca
514-703-8358