The PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women has written to Premier Pat Binns calling for leadership on resolving the CUPE Local 3373 strike at the Southern Kings Group Home.
"We know that women do most of the work required to support people with disabilities and we see that, in fact, all these striking workers are women. Given these realities, we wish to add our perspective to the situation," states Patricia Roy, Advisory Council Chairperson.
Ms. Roy continues, "We understand that the Premier met with the workers and that he listened to their concerns. These concerns are all about fairness and equality. The workers simply want to be paid the same money for the same work that is provided elsewhere in the province. As well, they want to be paid for all the work hours that they perform, to receive health and dental benefits, and to receive payment for overtime and work on statutory holidays as per the province's Employment Standards Act. From media reports, it appears that, after having heard these concerns, the Premier is willing to allow this unfair situation to continue, leaving the issue in the hands of the community board that operates the group home. We believe that there are compelling reasons why the provincial government must take leadership on this issue and work to resolve the strike in the short-term and the overall service delivery system in the long-term."
Elaborating on these reasons, Ms. Roy explains, "This issue is not confined to one Island community. In fact, all across Canada, those who work to provide support to people with disabilities (mostly women) find that this work is physically and emotionally difficult with long-term negative impacts on their own health and their economic security. They are required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays. They must do overnight shifts. They are responsible for medications and medical treatments. Their work commitments restrict their ability to be with their own families and to take up other community responsibilities. And, in return for their tremendous contribution to society, they receive low wages, few benefits, and little opportunity for career development."
"We believe that this situation developed because caregiving work has traditionally been called "women's work" and, as such, has not been valued as an occupation that requires considerable skill, expertise, and energy. In what other employment scenario, for example, would employees be expected to provide unpaid labour as part of their regular work week?"
"This traditionally low regard for caregiving work has been exacerbated by the Island's practice of delivering disability support services from the community level. Research by Canada's Roeher Institute clearly shows that community agencies do not support workers at the same levels as institutions, even though the working conditions are likely more demanding in community settings. While we are not advocating for a return to institutionalizing people with disabilities, we do think that there needs to be work done in this province to ensure that community boards have the capacity to provide fair, equitable employment conditions to the workers who provide such valuable services."
"Right now, all human services workers all across PEI are operating without a clear regulatory framework and without equitable standards. The situation at the Southern Kings Group Home is only symptomatic of a much larger issue. If this situation is not dealt with from a provincial perspective, then similar scenarios will follow. This is particularly pressing when we consider that large numbers of parents of people with disabilities who, in the past, have cared for their sons and daughters at home, are now aging and thus will be placing additional demands on community services that may already be inadequate for the needs in their communities."
"At our most recent Advisory Council meeting, members discussed this issue and gave their full support to the striking workers. To illustrate that support, all Council members and staff signed a petition and sent it to the Premier. Some staff will be joining the women on the picket line on Friday."
"We strongly urge the Premier to take leadership in resolving the strike at the Southern Kings Group Home immediately. There has already been sufficient disruption of the lives of the residents and the workers. And, we urge the Premier to expand the capacity of community agencies so that their workers do not have to sacrifice their own financial well-being in order to provide care to vulnerable citizens of PEI," concludes Chairperson Roy.
Contact Patricia Roy, Chairperson or Heidi Rankin, Director 368-4510