Young people in crisis deserve a well-trained worker – not a waitlist.

When young people in Peterborough and Northumberland County are struggling, they turn to workers at Kinark Child and Family Services. In recent years, they haven’t ended up in treatment but on growing waitlists with little prospect of getting help.

Members of CUPE 2860 have been bargaining for a new deal that invests in services and workers to help ease waitlists and ensure workers are paid fairly. So far management has stubbornly refused while they’ve given their leadership eye-watering raises of nearly 20 per cent. Young people deserve mental health supports – not a waitlist.

Members of CUPE 2860 are social workers, child and youth workers, supervised access workers and others supporting children, youth, and families by delivering 24-hour live-in treatment, working in schools, and offering counselling services. They are a safety net for young people struggling. But in recent years, young people have been languishing on waitlists as workers’ caseloads have grown. With increased pressure from management to churn through cases and comparatively low wages, workers are being forced to leave for better paying, more supportive jobs in other agencies.

Despite the revolving door of staff, management is trying to wring more concessions out of these workers. While Executive Director Cathy Paul got a nearly $50,000 raise, workers are being asked to accept wages that would push them further behind inflation.

Something needs to change. This round of bargaining is critical to ensure the mental well-being of young people Peterborough and Northumberland County. Send a message of support now.

Tell Kinark Child and Family Services to invest in workers with a fair deal. Send a message of support now.

Subject: I support CUPE 2860 members

Email:

I am writing in support of members of CUPE 2860 who are workers at the Peterborough and Northumberland County branches of Kinark Child and Family Services.

These workers are critical supports for young people and families in our communities. They change lives everyday. But they need you to invest in them.

Workers are treating KCFS as a stepping stone to other agencies that offer more support, lower case counts, and higher wages.

At KCFS, meanwhile, workers are being told to churn through cases to get ever-growing waitlists down. They should be given the time and resources needed to offer meaningful services.

For that to happen, you need to address the recruitment and retention challenges by offering a fair deal. They have been bargaining for nearly two years which sends the message that you don’t care about their work or well-being. Senior management, meanwhile, has received healthy raises.

I urge you to listen to the concerns of your workers when they tell you things need to change. I further urge you to do everything in your power to ensure they get a fair deal.

Sincerely,

<your name>

Please fill in your information below.