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9 |Thursd ay Au gust 17, 2017 | OAKVILLE BEAVER |w w w .insidehalton.com `No board' report triggers strike countdown a t CWSDS The bargaining team for 340 employees with Central West Specialized Developmental Services (CWSDS) has asked the Ontario Ministry of Labour for a `n o board' report. According to an Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) statement issued Monday, Aug. 14, the request was made "in light of their employers refusal to negotiate seriously." Once the ministry issues the report, a legal strike or lockout may take place on the 17th calendar day following. The two sides have been negotiating since the previous collective agreement expired on March 31. An initial offer of 10 cents an hour in each of two years was soundly rejected by 91 per cent of union members. The two sides met with a governmentappointed conciliator Aug. 8, but no progress was made. However, both sides have agreed to mediation before the possible strike or lockout date. "We're dedicated professionals committed to providing caring, quality services to our clients," said Sue Walker, president of OPSEU Local 249. "One of our top priorities is ensuring our services foster the inclusion and dignity that adults with developmental disabilities have a right to," said Walker questioning why then workers are being offered "dimes." of our rope." CWSDS provides residential services in group Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU president, homes in Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga, noted the provincial government has recently Halton Hills, and Georgetown. Its staff provides a agreed to contracts with a number of large public range of treatment services, including counselling, sector bargaining units, and CWSDS workers nursing, speech-language pathology, behaviour expect the same kind of fairness. therapy, and psychology services. "I clearly recall the disruptions of 2007 caused Walker noted low wages and physically by a series of strikes in developmental services exhausting and the sometimes dangerous nature At the time, this same Liberal government promised to stabilize the sector. OPSEU firmly of work means a high rate of staff turnover. "We love what we do," said Walker, "and we believes a fair deal, comparable to the deals want to keep doing it, but there are 30 vacancies offered to the bigger players, is the only way to right now. That means the rest of us have to take bring the stability that developmental services on the work of 30 employees. We're at the end workers deserve and that their clients need." Ready for back to sch o o l? Learn to be a proactive driver from the best. Take advantage of summer Express Courses & register before school starts. YD.COM | (905) 842-6846 YOUNG DRIVERS Text YDOAKVILLEBEAVER to 58888 fo r course dates. 312-345 Lakeshore Rd. East, Oakville 107-180 Oak Park Blvd., Oakville FALL DANCE PROGRAMS ALL LEVELS AGES 2 S UP S IG N U P N O W @ W W W .T H E D A N C E S T A T IO N .C A OR MEET US, TOUR OUR STUDIOS S SIGN UP IN-PERSON: SATURDAY, AUGUST 26,10 AM -12 NOON S WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 06, 6 - 8 PM THE DANCE STATION 9 0 5 6 3 2 5 6 0 8 1 8 0 0 A P P L E B Y LINE, U N IT 6 B U R L IN G T O N WW W.THEDANCESTATION.CA