People in Transition staff walked off the job yesterday, after the women's shelter Board of Directors refused to bargain a new contract with the eight full-time and six part-time counsellors.
The workers, members of the Service Employees International Union Local 1.on, have not had a raise in four years and would be willing to accept a one per cent pay equity adjustment, yet the Board has refused to offer even that.
"Our members are just appalled at the attitude of the Board members," said Linda Thayer the workers' union representative, "But they are elated at the support they are getting from other women from across Canada."
At a recent Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case at Rideau Hall, all seven women who received the award sent messages of solidarity to the female workers on strike in Alliston.
They include:
- Alexa McDonough - Former Leader of the New Democratic Party
- Allison Brewer - Iqualuit Regional Women's Committee
- Lea Cousineau - Public Security Commission of Montreal Urban Community
- Chi Nguyen - Canadian Women's Health Network
- Huberte Gautreau - Crossroads for Women, New Brunswick
- Bonnie Klein - Filmmaker
- Rosemary Spiers - Journalist and Chair of Equal Voice
"What is it these women understand and the People In Transition's Board of Directors and the Ontario Minister of Community and Social Services, and Sandra Pupatello don't?" Thayer asks.
SEIU Local 1.on is a 40,000 member province wide local union affiliated to the largest union in North America - the 1.7 million member Service Employees International Union.