Community Health Care Workers Rally to Secure a Fair Deal

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Tuesday, community health care workers at the South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC) will hold a solidarity rally, sending an unmistakable signal to management that they cannot tolerate the harmful effects of severe underfunding and understaffing any longer.

After more than eight months at the bargaining table, SRCHC management still refuses to meet members of CUPE Local 5399 eye to eye on wages. For years, the centre has suffered from chronic understaffing and extreme recruiting and retention issues.

The SRCHC is a cherished health and community care hub in the South Riverdale community, where social workers, registered dietitians, physiotherapists, clerical, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and community health workers tirelessly provide essential health care and social and community outreach services to Toronto’s east-end residents.

Members of CUPE 5399, which represents over 120 community health care workers at SRCHC, voted 92 per cent in favour of strike action if concrete measures are not taken to improve their ability to better serve the residents who rely on them.

If a deal is not reached, the local could hit the picket line on November 1.

CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn will speak at the rally alongside SRCHC community health care workers. Workers are asking members of the public who cannot attend to send a message of support: cupe.on.ca/fairwagesforsrchc

Who:	Fred Hahn, president of CUPE Ontario,
	Jess Lyons, RN, member of CUPE Local 5399
	Stephanie Myers, Vice President of OPSEU Local 5115
	Frontline community health care workers
Where:	55 Queen St. E, Toronto
When:	5:30pm on Tuesday, October 22

:lg/cope491