July 6 2026

Last week, community, health, and social service workers — members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO/NUPGE) — brought the need for improved funding to the Ontario Premier’s Ford Fest.

These workers, who have been on strike for over five weeks, turned out to sound the alarm on the crisis in social services. They distributed information and talked with attendees to raise public awareness about what they are facing caring for and supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.

These workers are among the lowest paid in the province, yet year after year, funding is not meeting the demand and service levels. With soaring inflation, many workers are turning to food banks, taking second jobs, and going into debt just to get by. They work with children and adults with disabilities, women fleeing violence and abuse, people with mental health and addictions issues, people experiencing homelessness, and adults with developmental disabilities and complex care needs.

“The Ontario government is trying to sell this strike as a simple labour dispute between employees and their employers, but at the heart of it is this government’s refusal to treat these workers — and the people who use these critical services — with the dignity and respect they deserve,” said Bert Blundon, President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). OPSEU/SEFPO is an affiliate of NUPGE.

Photo: JP Hornick, OPSEU/SEFPO President with striking members

The striking workers are fighting for overall improvements to fund the sector, but also to recoup wages from the government. In 2019, Ontario’s Conservative government passed legislation capping public sector wage increases at 1%. Five years later, the bill was ruled unconstitutional and repealed by the courts. While the government provided retroactive wages to workers in the broader public sector, it has refused to pay community, health, and social service workers the wages they are owed.

“This government must return the wages that are owed to these workers, provide stable, dedicated funding to prevent layoffs and service cuts, address staffing shortages, and protect continuity of care for the people who rely on these services,” said Blundon.

You can support the striking workers by sending a message to Doug Ford, and, if you live in Ontario, your local MPP, demanding they properly support community and social services.