OTTAWA,
ON, July 16, 2024 /CNW/ - On Thursday morning,
Children's Aid Society of Ottawa
(CASO) workers will take their fight for the future of the agency
and the state of child protection in Ontario to the front doorsteps of their
funders, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
(MCCSS). Under a government prioritizing corporate interests, it's
not just our public services under attack — kids are coming last,
too.
Over 320 CASO workers, members of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 454, are in
their second week on strike over deteriorating conditions brought
on by growing resource constraints. Years of cuts and provincial
underfunding have strained Children's Aid Societies across
Ontario, 95% of which are
currently in deficit – forced to shrink year after year through
site closures and mass layoffs that the kids & families they
support can't afford. Staffing demands and the complexity of cases
are on the rise, yet workers in Ottawa are under-resourced and next in line
when it comes to dozens of imminent layoffs. Further cutbacks will
only make it harder for workers to do their job of keeping children
with their families and in their communities.
Putting kids first starts with adequately funding Children's Aid
Societies so the workers tasked with child protection are equipped
to do their job: keeping kids safe.
WHO: Michele Thorn,
President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 454 representing over 320 Children's
Aid Society of Ottawa workers;
Chrisy Tremblay, CASO worker and
OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board Member; Joel
Harden, MPP Ottawa-Centre; Chandra
Pasma, MPP Ottawa West—Nepean; Stéphanie Plante, Ward 12
City Councillor for Rideau-Vanier; Sean
McKenny, President of the Ottawa & District Labour
Council (ODLC)
WHAT: Community rally outside the Ministry of Children,
Community and Social Services (MCCSS) demanding concrete funding
supports to match the service demands of child protection
workers.
WHERE: 347 Preston St, Ottawa,
ON – MCCSS Ottawa offices
WHEN: July 18, 2024 –
10:30 am
SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)