GTHA families look for government help as group home workers go on strike

Families caught in the middle of an Oakville care home contract dispute say the government needs to step in immediately to end the strike, before something really bad happens.

In October, several residents in specialized group homes in Halton and Mississauga were abruptly moved to a larger centralized facility to prepare for either a lockout, or a strike by workers at the homes.

On Thursday, those workers walked the picket line in Oakville demanding fair wages, as families of loved ones in the facility looked to the government for help.

Christopher Beddoe’s family says he had been living in a community group home for about 20 years.

“Chris is 46-years-old,” said Jan Beddoe, Christopher’s mother and concerned parent. “He has Prader–Willi syndrome — the biggest concern with him is his eating needs to be monitored very carefully.”

But in October, Central West Specialized Developmental Services moved him to a larger facility on Bond Street in Oakville.

“He’s really concerned right now about what’s going on. He’s now in a room at the centre with one box of clothing and no other furniture,” Jan said.

Christopher’s mother says unlike many of his new roommates, he is verbal and can communicate how upsetting his new living situation is.

“I do believe some effort is being made, but he’s also put on 14 pounds. And for someone like Chris it’s substantial, and very, very distressing,” Jan said.

WATCH MORE: GTHA families in disbelief as group home loved ones are moved without consent

Thursday morning 241 members of OPSEU Local 249 walked off the job.

“We went in asking for fair wages, asking for better health and safety,” said Julie Geiss, the President of OPSEU Local 249. “We are struggling to provide for ourselves, and if we can’t care for ourselves, we can’t care for other people.”

The local union president says she’s worked for the agency for 33 years and makes $23.24 an hour.

The bargaining unit originally asked for a 6.5 per cent raise.

“We are unable to make ends meet — everything has gone up,” said Geiss. “Some people that I work with cannot afford gas to come to work.”

“This is not good for anybody. And nobody in this dispute has the best interest of the individuals who are most vulnerable, caught in the crossfire,” said Rabia Khedr, a concerned sister.

Khedr’s 50-year-old brother lives in this facility — he’s “non-verbal.”

“He’s not able to verbalize any of his feelings, but you can certainly tell the change in dynamics is stressful,” said Khedr.

CHCH News reached out to the agency but has not heard back.

Khedr is asking the Ford government to intervene.

She says any worker who provides the level of care to people that the union members do should be deemed essential workers.

But so far, the government is staying out of the dispute.

READ MORE: ‘Completely traumatic’: Family members worried after residents moved from group homes