Ontario social service workers launch provincewide strike

Thousands of community and social workers across Ontario have walked off the job, launching a provincewide strike over chronic underfunding and stalled wage adjustments linked to a now repealed wage restraint law. The walkout, which began Monday, involves staff at nearly two dozen community organizations, with some workers joining picket lines that started over the weekend and others facing lockouts, according to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which represents the striking employees.

The union says the workers are demanding increased provincial funding for community and social services, arguing that years of underfunding have forced many employees to take on additional jobs just to make ends meet. At the same time, they warn that vulnerable people who rely on these services are struggling to access support. Beyond immediate funding increases, the union is pressing for retroactive pay related to Bill 124, a law that capped public sector wage increases at one percent annually before it was struck down as unconstitutional. Since the law was repealed, many public sector workers have received retroactive wage hikes of 6.5 per cent or more, but union officials say...