The union representing Wiarton area Community Living Counsellors has applied to the Ministry of Labour to assist in negotiating a new contract
The 60 Bruce Peninsula Association for Community Living employees help developmentally and emotionally challenged people to live in the community.
The organization runs 4 group homes and 2 day program areas in Wiarton.
The counsellors selected the Ontario Public Service Employees Union as their bargaining agent late last year – they have been working on their first collective agreement ever since.
OPSEU rep Ted Loughead (lock-heed) is concerned with the amount of time and money its taking to come to an agreement.
He says the workers are not asking for big pay increases and insists the dispute is based on normal every day items that appear in agreements with similar agencies across the province.
A conciliation meeting will be set up by the Ministry of Labour — likely in mid-September.
The meeting will either result in a new collective agreement — or a strike.
