The Executive Director of Community Living Brighton and Campbellford is answering back to some claims made by the union, as a labour disruption continues, over a new collective bargaining deal.
Nancy Brown says despite claims made in the media that it’s voluntary for workers to transport patients in their own vehicle, it’s actually been a long-time requirement, when no fleet vehicles are available and there are no other alternatives.
Brown says when employees do use their own cars, they’re paid mileage and of the 100 workers in the bargaining group, only 12 drove their own cars enough to receive $500 worth of mileage payments.
She says part of their offer to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union is to add two more vans to their fleet of 14.
She also says the claim of inadequate wage isn’t accurate, as the current pay scale is comparable to other organizations in their sector of work.
She says, like many other employers, they struggle to find the money to finance their operations and are heavily dependent on government funding.
Brown points anyone who may have questions about the organization’s policies to the Community Living Brighton and Campbellford website.
The strike began on March 21st.
