Nearly two dozen workers, all members of USW Local 2020, took to the streets on June 3 to picket their employer, CarePartners, after being locked out on May 31. The union rejected the company’s latest contract that included debilitating compensation cuts and increased weekend work, and took away the workers’ pensions.
“The union was prepared to continue bargaining to reach a negotiated settlement, but the company opted to lock out its employees, going so far as changing the locks on the office doors,” said USW District 6 Director Marty Warren. “Instead of bullying its employees, CarePartners should get back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair deal.”
All but one of the employees are women and their top wage, regardless of seniority, is $16.15 an hour.
One of the issues the union is trying to address at the bargaining table is language regarding the company’s harassment policies.
The two parties will meet again at the bargaining table on June 11.
Community and union members who would like to show solidarity with the locked-out local can contact the CEO of the North East Local Health Integration Network (LIHN), Jeremy Stevenson, with messages of support for the workers. LHIN is the government provider that funds CarePartners. Stevenson can be reached at jeremy.stevenson@lhins.ca or at 1 800-461-2919, extension 2390.
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