Striking personal care workers at Villa Colombo strengthened by growing political, union and community support

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Twenty-five personal care workers who support senior residents at Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged will themselves receive support and solidarity on Friday, when they welcome a second round of special visitors to their North York picket line.

Joining the striking members of CUPE 5525 tomorrow will be Ontario NDP MPP Alexa Gilmour, Critic for Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity; and union allies from CUPE Local 2, which represents TTC electricians, technicians, communications and signals workers.

In Villa Colombo’s supportive housing units, residents continue to express their solidarity with the dedicated workers who make it possible for seniors to live independently in the community. In growing numbers, residents are signing a petition in support of the striking workers and lodging daily complaints about the quality of care provided by the agency replacement workers hired by Villa Colomba.

CUPE 5525 members have built strong relationships with seniors over many years, but replacement workers have no connection to the seniors in the homes. Residents report unwelcome and risky changes to their daily routine, mistakes with medication, and anxiety produced by unfamiliar workers attempting to provide intimate personal care.

Poverty wages and cuts to workers’ benefits and sick days are at the root of the three-week-old strike at Villa Colombo.