Social Service
Workers United members at WoodGreen Community Services, Toronto, Ontario
Workers United represents numerous social service workers in many diverse fields such as childcare, immigrant services, homelessness and housing, harm reduction, mental health and recovery, developmental services, community development, language instruction for newcomers, home support work, youth employment services, family and women’s shelters and support services for seniors.
Social service workers are constantly striving to help improve the lives of others. By forming a union, social service workers improve their own working lives, ensuring job postings, scheduling and hours, and overtime are done fairly.
The social service sector faces many challenges including:
- Chronic underfunding by all levels of government
- A reliance on part-time, casual, relief or contract positions as a result of funding shortfalls
- Significant health and safety risks
- Increasing competition with for-profit services
Workers United advocates for greater funding and works with government agencies to ensure the voices of social service workers are heard. Through collective bargaining, part-time and casual jobs have become permanent positions, with benefits and pensions. Health and Safety committee are active in all Workers United workplaces, ensuring safety risks are being addressed and solutions discussed.
From urban shelters to residential personal support, social service workers are coming together with Workers United to connect, advocate and move foward. Having a union for social service workers means more than simply bargaining for higher wages – it means bridging communication gaps that often exist as a result of the dispersed nature of the social service sector.
If you are interested in becoming a Workers United member, contact us!