Almost 100 people braved the cold Tuesday to stand in solidarity with workers as they attempt to negotiate their first collective agreement at Street Health, a non-profit community-based agency providing physical and mental health programs to homeless and under housed individuals in the southeast core of Toronto.
In April 2008, sixteen workers voted for a union at Street Health; only six voted against it.
“That can’t be said any longer because a campaign of intimidation, interference and coercion by an employer that made it clear from the day we started organizing that she didn’t want a union,” said Kelly O’Sullivan, president CUPE local 4308. “She made it so clear for workers that she put it in writing for them.”
O’Sullivan said the interference and intimidation got so bad, they had no other option but to file a complaint with the Labour Board.
“Having captive, mandatory staff meetings where the union was berated and decertification was called for while the employer clapped,” she said.
The only reason, she added, that workers have put up with this employer is because they believe in the programs and services offered by Street Health, believe in the heart of the agency.
“They’re not going to allow someone at the top to take away what’s needed in this community,” said O’Sullivan, who promised that CUPE 4308 will get a fair contract for the workers, adding that in the past Street Health prided itself on equity and social justice.
On Wednesday, CUPE 4308 will meet with Street Health at mediation at the Ministry of Labour offices on University Avenue in Toronto. O’Sullivan said the union is facing a “no board” which means the community and workers could be locked out of Street Health on Christmas Eve.
“If you’re here to provide a service, why would you pull the trigger on a possible lockout unless you are intending to try and coerce workers to take a crappy contract?” asked O’Sullivan. “I’m here to tell that we won’t.”
CUPE 4308 assured supporters that they will stand up to the employer’s alleged bullying and intimidation tactics and stand strong with workers who couldn’t attend Tuesday’s rally for fear of reprisal.
They’ll demand a fair contract at Wednesday’s negotiations, demand that Gaetan Heroux continue working out of an office at Street Health and demand that the unoccupied building across the street (owned by Street Health but up for sale) be opened up to provide programs and services for homeless and poor people.
In prior years, half the board at Street Health had to be comprised of people who had experienced homelessness. That’s no longer the case. Brian DuBourdieu, an ex-Street Health board member, has lived in the community for the past 21 years.
In the last three years, DuBourdieu said there’s been a high turnover rate. “We lost six nurses in a year,” he said. “We lost mental health workers. People were quitting. People were taking stress leave.”
Every time he asked what was going on, the employer told him everything was fine. But DuBourdieu began to notice a pattern that “kept getting worse year after year.”
A week ago, long time community worker Gaetan Heroux was fired from his job at Neighbourhood Link. Heroux was employed in the PAID (Partners for Access and Identification) Clinic working out of an office at Street Health for the last ten years.
When he and his colleagues in the PAID Clinic spoke out in support of the workers at Street Health, he was relocated to Scarborough. Heroux refused to leave the community and was fired when he failed to report to the Neighbourhood Link office at Victoria Park and Danforth.
“If the staff were seen out here, they know that they would be fired,” said Heroux. “That’s the climate in there. But as the workers walked in today, they thanked me and they thanked you for being out here. And it’s a shame that they can’t be out here to say that themselves.”
On December 3, after Heroux had already battled for six weeks with Neighbourhood Link, Street Health executive director told Heroux in an email that she wanted his keys by 10 am on December 4. (Heroux was to report to his new office on December 7.)
At 4:30 pm, he packed his belongings into three bags, handed in his keys, grabbed his bike (which had a flat tire) and began a one hour walk home. The next day, Neighbourhood Link removed Heroux’s computer and files and shipped them to their Scarborough office.
On Monday morning, Heroux decided to set up shop outside Street Health near the sidewalk. From 9 am to 5 pm every day since, Heroux and a few supporters have sat in the bitter cold and heavy downpours speaking to community residents about his situation.
“Twenty one years ago, I came to this corner…alone…broken…for various reasons,” said Heroux, choked with emotion. “And if I were to leave this corner, and I don’t want to, but if I were to leave, this is the way to do it.”
Out of the chaos of the last few months has emerged a new organization called the Friends of Street Health. A number of former Street Health employees, came together to support the reinstatement of Heroux and the union drive.
Friends of Street Health put together a four page letter that was delivered on Monday to the board of directors at the agency.
They demanded that the Street Health board of directors:
– Conduct exit interviews on all staff that have left the agency within the last two years;
– replace the executive director and other managers with board representatives at the bargaining table;
– immediately withdraw the “no board” request;
– ensure that staff are not used as scab labour to do Gaetan Heroux’s work in the interim;
– intervene with the director of Neighbourhood Link to reinstate Gaetan Heroux at Street Health; and
– offer the executive director a minimum six month leave of absence to allow the agency to begin healing and get back to its original mandate with an interim executive director.
“If Laura Cowan declines that offer, she should be asked for her resignation and relieved of her duties,” said Cathy Crowe, spokesperson for Friends of Street Health.
“We have great experience and great support in organizing and rallying the community. We will do more in the new year if they do not respond.”
Click here to see more photos from the rally.
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