Employees represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2305, working at the Metro Community Housing Association, voted 93% in favour of job action on Monday.
“The last thing we want is to be on strike,” said Cherie Pellerin, president of CUPE 2305, “but our members are struggling to make ends meet and they’re frustrated. We want a deal that gives us fair wages and a chance to retire comfortably one day.”
CUPE 2305 represents over 100 employees working in the Metro Community Housing Association. These care workers are responsible for helping their clients move around the community, assisting with shopping, meal preparation, and bringing them to events. They are fighting for higher wages and a defined benefit plan, which only a few other locals in the Community Services sector have.
“In other sectors, workers with the same qualifications are offered more. They get better wages, pensions, job security,” said CUPE National Representative Wanda Power. “These workers don’t want to leave their clients, but when they are continually offered less, eventually there’s no other choice.”
There are currently no further bargaining dates scheduled.
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