The Grey Bruce Labour Council is criticizing Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Paul Vickers over his response to striking community and social service workers.
In a media release, the labour council accused Vickers of avoiding members of OPSEU Local 235, which represents Community Living Hanover workers.
The local is part of a broader province-wide OPSEU campaign involving thousands of community, health and social service workers. OPSEU says the dispute centres on funding for frontline services and wages the union says workers are owed following Ontario’s former Bill 124 wage restraint legislation.
The Grey Bruce Labour Council says Vickers is showing what it calls "turtle like behavior" by hiding from workers.
"The time has come for MPP Vickers and all the members of the Ford government to correct the wrongs of Bill 124 and the ever-escalating underfunding of the service provided by OPSEU 235 members and workers providing public services in every corner of Ontario," the union said in a statement released to the media.
The labour council also alleged Vickers has involved law enforcement staff, including parliamentary police, in relation to striking workers. That specific claim has not been independently confirmed.
In a response provided to CKNXNewsToday.ca, Vickers said he respects the collective bargaining process.
"We know that negotiations are between the employer and the union, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to intervene or comment on those discussions while they are ongoing," Vickers said. "My team and I are committed to helping constituents with all matters, and can assure them that we hear their concerns on a daily basis."
Vickers said he encourages all parties to continue "respectful, good-faith negotiations toward a fair and timely resolution."
