Employer offering eight-year wage freeze: union
After 18 months of negotiations with their employer, 48 Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) members at Settlement Assistance and Family Support Services (SAFSS) are bracing for a strike that could start as early as 12:01 a.m. this Saturday, according to the union.
Backed by a 100 per cent strike mandate from its members, OPSEU members at SAFSS provide a variety of services for recent immigrants, including language and skills development, newcomer settlement services, and childcare.
The key bargaining issues are an eight-year wage freeze, the employer's unlawful suspension of benefits during a statutory freeze when no changes to contracts are permitted, and cuts to hours of work, said the union.
The main goal, according to bargaining chair for Local 518 Valentina Khoudiakova, is achieving an agreement with the employer before the strike deadline.
"We don't want to be forced on strike. We don't want to see the hundreds of people we provide services to - many of whom face enough hardships as refugees - suffer because of the employer's refusal to respect collective bargaining."
