London Developmental Services workers to picket Minister Milloy's office demanding funding

KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ON, Jan. 19, 2012 /CNW/ - Developmental Services workers from Community Living London are holding an information picket at the office of John Milloy, Minister of Community and Social Services on Friday, January 20. Calling for proper funding, workers are protesting cuts to the services so many vulnerable people depend on.

What: Information Picket

When: Friday, January 20, 2012

11:30am - 1:00pm

Where: Minister John Milloy's Constituency Office

1770 King St. E, unit# 6C
Kitchener, Ontario

"When is the Minister of Community and Social Services going to recognize that Ontario's Developmental Services sector is in crisis?" said OPSEU President, Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "Enough is enough."

"We are calling on the Minister to address the funding of this sector immediately," said Thomas.

Local 166 at Community Living London have repeatedly called to meet with the Minister to no avail. "Minister Milloy has ignored repeated requests from OPSEU and Employers groups to meet," said OPSEU Local 166 president, Debbie Morphew. "We are still waiting."

"We are holding this information picket to bring the issue to the Minister's door," said Morphew. "He needs to know we are not giving up. We are not going to disappear."

Workers at Community Living London are facing the new year with layoffs and significant cuts to service hours. Seven full-time staff are being eliminated from the agency, and many part-time staff have reduced hours. Meanwhile Ontario has a waiting list of 20,000 people who need developmental services. "These cuts are a direct result of chronic underfunding," said Morphew. "Milloy can be blamed for the long waiting list for developmental services in London and the rest of Ontario."

There are more than 8,000 OPSEU members working in developmental services. Providing professional care to people with developmental disabilities, their work includes providing life skills and other training, support with basic personal tasks and administering medications.

Debbie Morphew, Local 166, 519-671-2121

Lynne Easter-Froats, staff negotiator 519-657-8312