TORONTO – Last week members of CUPE 5399, which represents over 120 health care workers at the South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC) in Toronto’s east end, were able to reach a deal after months of negotiations.
CUPE 5399 was scheduled to hit the picket line early November if a deal had not been reached. Health and community care workers at the centre, who are passionate about the community health services they provide to residents of South Riverdale, were fighting against the harmful effects of severe underfunding and understaffing.
“This excellent deal reflects our priorities and allows SRCHC community health providers to work in dignity and respect,” said Debby Yuke, President of CUPE 5399. “It is an excellent foundation upon which to build further improvements to our working conditions and the robust services our communities deserve. It will protect both services and the workers at SRCHC for years to come.”
This win is an important victory in the fight to defend community health services and a step toward addressing Doug Ford’s Conservatives’ severe underfunding of community health care.
The centre is a cherished hub in the east-end community, where social workers, registered dietitians, physiotherapists, clerical, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and community health workers tirelessly provide essential health care and social and community outreach services to Toronto’s east-end residents.
Yuke thanked the South Riverdale community for their tremendous support.
“This win was helped immeasurably by the support from South Riverdale residents, and the solidarity built between workers and community. Our goal was to reach an agreement that included wage and benefit improvements that would address the SRCHC staffing crisis, so that workers could more safely and effectively continue this important work.”
CUPE represents over 200,000 health and community care workers from coast to coast.
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For more information, contact:
Shannon Carranco, CUPE Communications Representative
514-703-8358 | [email protected]
