Community Living London reaches deal with union, ending 3-month strike

Community Living London and OPSEU Local 166 have reached an agreement, ending a nearly three-month strike that saw hundreds of community and social workers walk off the job in late May.

"The path forward is one of reconciliation and renewed strength," Community Living London wrote in a statement Thursday.

"Community Living London is driven by a commitment to the people we support and their families, and to the employees who make that care possible. As we return to full service delivery, we do so with appreciation for a community that continues to stand with us."

The union's demands included retroactive pay related to Bill 124, which capped public sector wage increases at one percent and was later ruled unconstitutional.

They also wanted a funding boost, with the union's president, Lisa Fewster, calling the sector "broken," adding they are facing a waitlist of thousands of people in need of support.

The union recognized that the fight was ultimately with the provincial government, which provides the funding for Community Living London.

"Our employer can't fix this, they don't have the money to fix the waitlist," Fewster said. "They are underfunded as well, so the government needs to start stepping up and owning that the people that we support are in trouble."

CBC News reached out to the union to find out what the agreement entails, but did not receive a response. The story will be updated when it is provided. Community Living London wrote in its statement that further updates would be provided on when it can re-open all services.

News of the strike ending was a "massive relief" for Carla Dew and her 25-year-old son Mitchell, who has autism and Tourette syndrome. Mitchell is unable to live independently. He spent five days each week with the organization from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m until the strike.

Dew "took a huge sigh," she said, but it will take some time before the news fully hits her.

"His world and my world totally changed and turned upside down," Dew said of the strike.

Community Living London provided Mitchell with a much-needed sense of routine and structure, and got him out in the community, Dew said. He loved going to Fanshawe Conservation Area to feed the birds, swim, do woodworking, and accompany staff on car rides running errands.

When the strike began, Dew took it upon herself to provide that routine, getting him up every morning, heading to the YMCA, getting lunch and working on chores together.

But by 3 p.m., when Mitchell would typically be coming home, Dew was exhausted, she said, with the whole evening still ahead of her. "I was experiencing caregiver burnout very quickly and I knew I needed help," she said.

Dew ended up finding a care worker to look after Michell during the day — a difficult process with weeks of training involved, she added.

Her experience during the strike reaffirmed that the workers Community Living London were "some of the most valuable people" in their lives, she said.

"I just want to say to the workers, thank you so much for advocating for the future services of individuals with disabilities and their families and also for yourselves," she said.

"You need to be well compensated for the hard work and crucial work that you do."