TORONTO — Families of residents at a Greater Toronto Area group home say they are increasingly anxious about the safety and well-being of their loved ones, accusing management of failing to provide clear information as a labour strike stretches into its fifth day.
Support workers at Central West Specialized Development Services (CWSDS)—a provincially funded living facility for adults with developmental disabilities—walked off the job Wednesday evening after more than 40 days of stalled negotiations. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 249, which represents the workers, says its members are seeking better wages, mental health supports and improved working conditions. Union president Julie Geiss says employees rejected two offers they felt contained minimal changes and alleged the employer used intimidation tactics during negotiations.
CWSDS CEO Patricia Kyle denied those claims, saying in a statement that the organization has bargained in good faith and offered workers an average 6.5 per cent wage increase and expanded mental health benefits. Kyle said resident safety remains the home’s top priority while temporary third-party agency staff fill in during the strike. She did not disclose which agency is supplying the replacement workers.
But several families say they have been left in the dark.
Rabia Khedr, whose non-verbal brother Shah Khan lives at the Oakville facility, says communication from CWSDS has been limited and deeply concerning. Her worries intensified last month when management moved residents from group homes in Burlington, Halton Hills, Mississauga and Oakville into the main Bond Street facility without consulting families, citing the likelihood of a labour disruption. Activity rooms were repurposed into living spaces, and Shah—who already lived in the main building—suddenly acquired five new housemates. Khedr says the environment has become overcrowded and stressful.
Her alarm escalated when Shah developed an infected cut that she says went untreated at the home. After noticing the injury, Khedr’s family took him to a doctor, who prescribed antibiotics. But four days later, with the wound worsening, Shah needed medical attention again. Khedr says she has received no explanation or incident report from management about how the injury occurred.
“This may seem like a minor injury, but if staff who know him aren’t there, who will notice when something is wrong?” she said.
Another family member, Jan Beddoe, says her 46-year-old son Chris—who has Prader-Willi syndrome—was moved to the main facility last month with only a cardboard box of his clothes. While she says he is adjusting, she worries about the disruption and the absence of his regular caregivers. When Chris saw some of the striking staff during a weekend outing, Beddoe says he became emotional.
“He misses them so much. They are his family,” she said.
Beddoe has also flagged health concerns, noting Chris has gained 14 pounds since the move, a serious issue for someone with Prader-Willi syndrome. She says she has repeatedly contacted agency staff about his care, including how to manage his colostomy bag.
Both Khedr and Beddoe say temporary staff have been responsive, but management has not. They worry especially for residents whose families live far away or are elderly and unable to regularly monitor care.
“We all deserve to feel safe and secure,” Beddoe said. “These residents don’t have that right now.”