Renfrew’s town council wants to see a deal done to get local social services workers off the picket line.
Councillor John McDonald and Reeve Peter Emon put forward a resolution to call on the province, employers, and bargaining representatives to continue good-faith negotiations and come to a timely and fair resolution to ensure a stable workforce and that developmental services are not disrupted.
Emon noted that labour disputes are often messy, and the current strike being felt locally and across Ontario will have a significant impact on friends and family of affected clients who will have to pick up the slack to maintain the structure their loved ones rely on.
He also expects the added strain to ripple into our local hospital network, paramedics, and other groups who will need to step in if the strike continues long enough to negatively affect the client’s well-being.
Copies of the resolution are expected to be sent to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Community and Social Services Minister Michael Parsa, local members of provincial parliament, and both the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Rural Ontario Municipal Association.
(written by Kasey Egan)
