Canada : Strike looms for Peel Children's Aid Society workers
She said the union’s bargaining team reviewed the offer and decided unanimously to reject it. Their previous contract expired March 31.
“We are disappointed that our final offer was not accepted
Yung said the union wants “modest improvements to wages and benefits,” but that the two sides weren’t far off from agreement on financial issues.
“Most of the issues aren’t things that would cost a great deal of money. They really are about the working environment,” she said.
In 2014, the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies released a series of recommendations to reduce physical and emotional harms caused by unsafe circumstances for children’s aid workers across the province.
It highlighted a survey in which 27 per cent of children’s aid workers reported they had experienced assault, while 45 per cent reported a threat to themselves or their families. More than two-thirds reported verbal or written abuse against themselves or their families and nearly half said they’d experienced secondary trauma because of violence affecting a co-worker or child.
The Peel Children’s Aid Society said a potential strike would impact its level of service due to a reduced workforce. It added, however, that its contingency plan would still entail “qualified and experienced staff” responding to child protection concerns, but that the most urgent situations would be prioritized.
“For example we will be conducting all investigations where a child might be at immediate risk, attending court and supporting open cases,” Bains stated.
The Peel Children’s Aid Society has had an average of 405 children and youth in care since last year.
“We don’t want to disrupt the service and the supports that we provide on a daily basis to the children and families of Peel Region,” Yung said. “People have put a lot of effort and energy into establishing those relationships with their families. They have gained their trust. The last thing we would want is for that to be eroded.”