Community Living Algoma workers to march Thursday

Community Living Algoma (CLA) workers, who will be in a legal strike position next week, will march from Roberta Bondar Place to the CLA offices on Thursday afternoon.

The following is a news release issued today by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, followed by one from Community Living Algoma:

**************************************************************** Community Living Algoma Workers March to Protest Stalled Contract Talks

SAULT STE. MARIE, April 16 - Community Living Algoma workers will hold an information picket and march, tomorrow, Thursday, April 17th, starting at 2:00 p.m. in front of Roberta Bondar Place, marching on to the headquarters of Community Living Algoma at Station Tower (2 Elgin Street corner), to protest their employer's failure to offer a fair collective agreement.

The workers, members of Local 1880 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), will be in a legal strike position on April 23rd. Who?

Community Living Algoma workers, Tony Martin MPP, Community Supporters

What?

Information picket and march

When?

Thursday, April 17, 2003, 2:00 p.m.

Where?

Starting in front of Roberta Bondar Place

Marching to Community Living Algoma headquarters, Station Tower (2 Elgin Street corner), Sault Ste. Marie

**************************************************************** Community Living Algoma heads into mediation hopeful a settlement can be reached

Community Living Algoma (CLA) is hoping for a positive outcome from planned mediation with CUPE Local 1880 on Tuesday, April 22nd.

John Policicchio, CEO says, "This is a final step in the negotiation process. Under the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act, arbitration no longer applies to employers who provide services funded under the Developmental Services Act." The legislation was amended to reflect this change in June 2001.

The organization has been advised by the Ministry of Community, Family and Children’s Services that there is no additional funding available.

In the meantime, CLA management must pursue alternative supports for people in preparation for a strike.

"We have a responsibility to ensure that a certain level of service can continue to be provided should there be a strike. Whenever there is a possibility of any kind of service disruption, it is our responsibility to be ready. Those we support count on us."

Mr. Policicchio says the people CLA supports need the services/supports they are receiving but if there is a labour disruption it won’t be possible to maintain a full complement of services.

"We have contacted families to assist and support their family member in the event of a strike.

"We are extremely appreciative of the tremendous positive response from families and the assistance they would offer in providing alternative supports for their family members." CLA’s Chief Executive Officer comments, "Under these circumstances, we remain confident that we will be able to meet the basic, daily needs of people and ensure their safety.

"We will not be in a position of delivering a full complement of services as we do each day with approximately four-hundred employees." Although, CLA is well prepared to implement its contingency plan, management remains hopeful that mediation will be successful.

It is unfortunate that CUPE Local 1880 – CLA has stated publicly it is not hopeful a settlement can be reached.

Mr. Policicchio says, "We want to avoid a labour dispute and move forward with our organizational plan of providing quality supports for people with a developmental disability and their families.

"We have always wanted and will continue making all possible efforts to negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement for our employees.

"But a settlement has to be within our existing financial resources.

"At the same time, we are very focused on and responsible for ensuring that services and supports to people and their families across the District of Algoma are not negatively impacted." ****************************************************************