A delegation of home and community health care workers with CUPE 4877 delivered a signed petition to the office of Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith on Wednesday.
The signed petition calls for fair wages for workers in Home and Community Care Support Services (HCCSS).
CUPE says it is demanding that the Ontario government and the Treasury Board come back to the table to negotiate a fair wage increase on Friday saying HCCSS members have still not settled their wage reopener negotiations after Bill 124 was overturned.
“The Treasury Board in January offered us a very significantly low wage increase after waiting three years through Bill 124, and we’re doing these actions to show the government that our members are ready,” Home and Community Care Support Services representative Brett Geneau tells Quinte News.
“In order to do this delegation, we needed 60% of the members’ signatures to be able to come forward, and we received that all across Ontario. So, a very strong mandate from the members saying to fight this and to get a new mandate from the Treasury Board.”
Home and Community Care Support Services representative Brett Geneau leading a chant with other HCCSS members in front of the office of Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith. May 22, 2024. (Photo: Zach McGibbon/Quinte News)
Geneau says this is one of several delegations across the province looking to try and send a message to the provincial government.
“There is a health care rally May 30 in Toronto at Nathan Phillips Square and that is bringing, already, 1000s of people for that,” Geneau said. “But these were meant for little delegations all across the Ontario at the MPP offices.”
At the delegation in Rossmore, there were 10 to 15 people delivering the petition.
Workers included nurses, personal support workers, occupational and physiotherapists, IT and administrative support and other health care workers.
Petition from Home and Community Care Support Service workers being delivered to the officer of Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith. May 22, 2024. (Photo: Zach McGibbon/Quinte News)
