CUPE 5525 Members Receive Support From the Ontario Nurses Association as Strike Drags on at Villa Colombo

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Striking workers from the Villa Colombo Supportive Housing Unit are thankful that their struggle isn’t going unnoticed by the wider labour movement. These personal care workers are members of CUPE 5525 and have been on the picket line since May 28^th outside the care residences, operated by Villa Colombo Home for the Aged and Villa Charities at Dufferin and Lawrence.

The Ontario Nurses Association added their union to the growing list of supportive organizations, unions and community members, who want to see a fair deal for the members of CUPE 5525. In a letter addressed to the directors of Villa Colombo and Villa Charities, the ONA calls on the employer to end their use of scab labour and return to the table with an offer that respects the skill and dedication these workers bring to their roles.

“Rather than bargaining a fair deal, you are paying staffing agencies to provide scab labour at a higher rate than you pay your own workers. That is shameful and has resulted in sub-standard care in your homes. Your residents have shared their unhappiness with replacement workers who are not trained or certified to the standards of CUPE 5525 members.”

ONA’s Provincial President, Erin Ariss and Regional Vice President, Karen McKay-Eden, along with members of the ONA, reinforced the CUPE 5525 picket line and provided lunch for the striking workers.

At issue for the union members are fair pay, sick days, and a benefits package that will enable these workers to provide the best care possible for the residents of the buildings they service. The employer’s last proposal contained significant concessions to the working conditions of these workers.

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