Vanessa Edwards is an employee at Central West Specialized Developmental Services (CWSDS), which is a provincially funded supportive living community dedicated to adults with developmental disabilities. Edwards plays a crucial role in assisting numerous individuals in acquiring the skills necessary for transitioning to community supportive living homes managed by CWSDS.
Recently, support staff at the Oakville care facility initiated a strike, which occurred over 40 days after CWSDS management filed a no-board report with Ontario's Ministry of Labour. In preparation for this work stoppage, management had previously relocated residents from other facilities back to the Oakville site as part of a contingency strategy.
Edwards, who also serves as the vice-president of OPSEU Local 249, expressed concern about the repercussions of the strike. She emphasized, “It doesn’t take long to unlearn skills. And now we’re going to send them back into the community and start all over again; that is not fair to the individuals, it is not fair for the staff who have to go back and start all over again. That is what we’re afraid of.”
CWSDS asserts that all members of its care team, including agency staff brought in during the strike, possess the requisite skills, training, and qualifications to provide care for the individuals living in the facility. However, this claim has been met with disagreement from the union.
Union president Julie Geiss voiced her disapproval, stating, “These people were moved out years ago, they were quite happy in their community participating and being supported, and because we want a fair wage, they were moved back here.” She further criticized the current care situation by asserting, “These people I would not leave with a rock, so I don’t understand how they’re leaving them with vulnerable individuals.”
The strike has now extended for over a month, prompting the union to reach out directly to the CWSDS Board of Directors and organizing a picket outside of the Hamilton office of Dr. Olivia Ng.
In a letter addressed to the board, the union articulated concerns regarding “serious issues” under CEO Patricia Kyle's leadership that allegedly threaten health and safety within the support environment.
In response to these issues, Kyle remarked, “We have seen great resilience in those we support as they adapt to their temporary surroundings and continue to thrive.” This comment underscores the ongoing challenges faced by residents during the strike.
Edwards raised broader concerns about the treatment of individuals with developmental disabilities, stating, “Those with a developmental disability or those seen as less are always undervalued, and it goes right up to our government. Why are they not stepping in and saying, ‘Hey, what is this?’”
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services responded to the situation by emphasizing that collective bargaining is fundamentally a matter between the employer and the respective unions. The ministry requires agencies like CWSDS to devise contingency plans, confirming that inspections are conducted to ensure compliance with regulations.
As the standoff continues, the Ministry of Labour has intervened, directing all involved parties to return to the bargaining table for discussions scheduled for Friday morning.
