DSWs: Forgotten on the frontline
DSWs provide vital work in out communities. Working with some of the most vulnerable populations in our society, the work that you do makes a world of difference for so many people and families, but too often this work is undervalued by governments and employers:
- DSWs face high levels of burnout and exhaustion due to over work and short staffing.
- DSW wages have fallen well behind other professions and are not keeping up to inflation.
- Thanks to advocacy from unions, governments have provided temporary wage top ups to workers.
- There is more work to be done to make these wage top ups permanent, and provide stable funding to Developmental Services agencies.
The union gives you a voice
Joining a union gives you and your co-workers a stronger voice in your workplace. When you are part of a union you can:
- Negotiate better working conditions.
- Build a collective agreement that your employer is obligated to follow.
- Have better representation in workplace disputes.
- Address workplace issues that are impacting many employees.
- Work with DSWs across Ontario to advocate for increased funding to provide better working conditions, more jobs and better services for people with developmental disabilities.
The CUPE advantage
On average unionized workers have higher wages, better benefits and a much greater work/life balance.
- CUPE has an incredible track record at the bargaining table and in winning important human rights for all workers.
- KW-Habilitation is an outlier. The majority of services like ours in the surrounding area are unionized, including workers at Community Living Guelph Wellington who are members of CUPE Local 4392.
- DSW’s who are unionized with CUPE benefit from: Safer work environments, better wages, minimum shift lengths and shift premiums, protection against the use of temp agencies, and more.
Joining a union – FAQs
What is CUPE?
A union is, at its most basic, a group of workers who agree to support one another in order to improve all their lives and their communities. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is Canada’s largest and fastest growing union with more than 700,000 members from coast to coast. We represent over 8,000 developmental services workers in communities across Ontario.
The Union is You: Whenever workers in a given workplace join CUPE, they form a “bargaining unit” that has its own, unique collective agreement. Members of the bargaining unit (i.e. you!) elect their leadership, select their stewards, and elect their bargaining committee.
- In CUPE, the members – that’s you – are in charge. Each CUPE bargaining unit decides its priorities for a Collective Agreement and how best to work together to negotiate with their employer to make improvements.
- Each CUPE bargaining unit also has a CUPE National Representative. Your Representative will work with you to make sure you have access to the resources needed to achieve your collective goals.
- CUPE resources include specialist support for Legal, Communications, Education, Research, WSIB, Health and Safety, Human Rights, Job Evaluation / Pay Equity, and public and local campaigns.
My boss says that CUPE is an outsider that is unfamiliar with our workplace, is that true?
We are KW Habilitation workers who are tired of being treated unfairly and feeling disrespected at work. We reached out to CUPE to help improve our workplace.
Together, we are the union. CUPE will support us as we gain a stronger voice in our workplace and negotiate better working conditions. CUPE represents thousands of DSWs across Ontario, so they understand the challenges that we face in our job, the disrespect we face in the workplace and the government underfunding that leads to shortstaffing, over work, and reduced services.
CUPE is not an outsider, they are here to help us have a voice so we get the respect we deserve at work.
My boss told me unions cannot improve my working conditions, is that true?
A union will improve our working conditions by helping us negotiate predictable schedules, protection from being fired without reason, fair and transparent workplace policies that apply to everyone and enhanced wages and benefits.
In addition, some of the minimum benefits you now receive from your employer are a result of workers like us forming unions over the last 100 years. Benefits such as the weekend, right to pensions, vacations, minimum wage laws, human rights laws and health and safety regulations exist because unions negotiated for them.
Can my boss interrogate me, discipline me or even fire me because of my support for the union?
No. It is your right to join a union and to be represented by a union. This right is protected by law.
- Freedom of association is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
- Every person is free to join a trade union of the person’s own choice and to participate in its lawful activities. This is protected by the Ontario Labour Relations Act and the Canada Labour Code.
- You can talk about the union with your co-workers. Freedom of speech and freedom of association are your rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; therefore the right to speak about freedom of association is protected under the law.
It is against the law for an employer to fire employees because they have chosen to engage in union activity or to discriminate against them in any other way.
If you experience any intimidation or discipline by your boss as a consequence of your support for the union, CUPE’s skilled legal team will protect you.
Is signing a union card and voting in the certification vote confidential?
A Labour Board Officer holds the vote and this officer ensures that there is no interference by the employer or the union representatives to intimidate or influence the vote. The voting process is confidential and is similar to Provincial and Federal elections. No one will ever know how you voted and at no time during the process will your employer know whether or not you have signed a union card.
What is a Collective Agreement?
A collective agreement is the contract between the union and employer that tells workers and the employer what their rights and responsibilities are. The Collective Agreement outlines things such as: wages, benefits, hours of work, vacation and holidays, seniority, how to handle disagreements, health and wellness accommodations, etc. It ensures that everyone receives equal treatment by the employer and an accountability process if the agreement is violated. You will have the opportunity to democratically elect your co-workers to serve on a committee to negotiate your Collective Agreement, and you will vote on its ratification.