CUPE 109 housing workers are locked in a tense round of bargaining with the Kingston Frontenac Housing Corporation (KFHC) management. The workers are asking for a modest 2% annual increase in compensation as they struggle to keep up with the soaring cost of living.
The union represents 25 maintenance, administrative, building monitors, and clerical workers who provide services for over 10,000 KFHC residents living in supportive housing units.
Over the past few years, staff have witnessed a substantive increase in their workloads as KFHC expanded operations by opening 30 additional buildings without improving staffing levels.
The workers appreciate the addition of more affordable housing units in the city but simply want fair compensation in return. However, the employer has been dismissive and often outright disrespectful.
The union has a 100% strike mandate and has filed for No-Board, with the strike/lockout deadline set for 12:01am on March 13. There is a simple way to avoid job action for KFHC management: listen to the employees who provide valuable services for residents.
CUPE 109 requests its allies across Kingston to send a message to the KFHC board of directors to intervene and ensure that workers get a fair deal.
For more information, read CUPE 109’s media release.
