HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-04-27, Page 7Wednesday, April 27, 2005 Exeter Times -Advocate 7 1 11 11 1 �I Exeter Times -Advocate DATE: April 27, 2005 SIZE: 6 x 220 CLIENT: CUPE Local 2597 Mail: PO Box 667, Station F, Toronto ON M4Y 2N6 Office: 101 Spadina Ave, Suite 204A, Toronto ON M5V 2K2 Tel: 416 593 6030 • Fax: 416 593 6041 • mail@unioncommunications.ca INFORMATION: Siobhan Kennedy 416 516-5706 You can help people with intellectual disabilities If you are a South Huron area parent or family member of an individual with an intellectual disability receiving support from community living front line staff OR If you are someone in the community committed to advocating for the rights of the disabled PLEASE ATTEND THIS IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEETING: Monday, May 2, 2005 - 7:00 p.m. Exeter Public School 93 Victoria Street East, Exeter Meeting sponsored by the front line workers at Community Living South Huron (CUPE 2597) Community Living we maze Dear parents and community, Each day, community living workers help people with intellectual disabilities find meaningful work, attend school, and gain the skills and confidence needed to live fully in our community. Each day, we struggle to do more with less. For years, the Ontario government has underfunded services and community supports for people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Underfunding means agencies scramble to provide programs and services to vulnerable people, and community living workers are underpaid and overworked. For too long, workers have shouldered the burden of provincial underfunding through low wages and heavy workloads. For too long, people with intellectual disabilities have suffered because of high staff turnover rates, lack of continuity of care, and long waiting lists. This isn't right. Underfunding also impacts us in bargaining. We are now in difficult contract negotiations and our agency administration is fighting us at the bargaining table. This, too, isn't right. Our goal is to reach a fair negotiated settlement. But, it seems our agency administration is gearing up for conflict. They are prepared to have scab labour do our work, should there be a strike or lockout. This puts the individuals we support at risk. Again, this isn't right. Please help us avoid conflict. Attend our parent and community meeting on Monday, May 2, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at the Exeter Public School, 93 Victoria Street East, Exeter. Thank you for your support, The front line workers at: Community Living South Huron (CUPE 2597) For more information about the meeting or how you can help, contact Jennifer Kaufmann at (519) 433-1753. -LUPE On the front line