Peterborough city councillors have voted to support a motion to continue city child care subsidies for eligible parents participating in a lawful strike or lockout, on the same day the strike by workers of Community Living Trent Highlands that prompted the motion ended.
During a general committee meeting on Tuesday (August 4), councillors voted 8-2 in favour of a motion from councillor Joy Lachica directing city staff to expedite a review of 14-year-old wording in an internal social services policy document that generally makes parents involved in a labour disruption ineligible for a child care fee subsidy.
The motion also directs staff to ensure no parent receiving a subsidy when a lawful strike or lockout begins loses it during the labour disruption, with staff to report back to council by the end of September.
Strike put child care subsidy policy in the spotlight
The issue came to council’s attention during the strike by more than 300 full-time and part-time developmental service workers represented by Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 358.
The workers, who are employed by Community Living Trent Highlands serving Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton County, began striking on May 22.
On July 30, Local 358 president Jessica Bushey wrote on Facebook that the city’s child care subsidy policy stated people participating in a legal strike or labour disruption did not qualify for a subsidy.
Bushey said the city reversed the decision in her case after she challenged it, but argued access to the subsidy should not depend on whether an affected parent speaks up.
“Policies like this create unnecessary barriers for workers who are legally exercising their rights,” she wrote. “I’m fighting for the policy to change. Advocacy doesn’t end when your own problem is solved.”
Peterborough and District Labour Council president Marcia Steeves shared Bushey’s post on Facebook, tagging members of city council.
Councillor Lachica subsequently discussed the policy with acting commissioner of community services Rob McAuley before bringing her motion to general committee.
Councillor Lachica calls 2012 city policy outdated and inequitable
During Tuesday’s meeting, councillor Lachica said the policy is contained in an internal social services operational practices document dating back to 2012.
She explained that, under section 4.9 of the document, a parent participating in a labour disruption, strike, or work-to-rule action will typically not qualify for a fee subsidy because the activity is not included under the city’s eligible hours of care policy. The parent would be given two weeks’ notice before losing the subsidy.
The policy also states that, when a labour dispute exceeds three months, the city will review the number of affected parents and the availability of fee subsidies to determine whether assistance can continue.
Describing the language as outdated and inequitable, councillor Lachica said it effectively penalizes workers for exercising their legal right to strike.
“A strike is a very taxing thing for those workers who are in a position of not having the same amount of income that they normally would have,” she said.
Councillor Lachica noted many of the striking Community Living Trent Highlands employees are women and single parents for whom a child care subsidy is “a lifeline.”
“This is a motion that is supportive of women,” she said. “We want to be non-discriminatory, and we want to be the city that in goodwill provides a subsidy on a consistent basis without the fear, without the anxiety, that that subsidy would be removed because of a strike.”
City staff have already begun review of policy
In response to a question, McAuley told council that city staff became aware of the concern the previous week and had already begun reviewing the policy.
“We’ve already addressed the two situations that have arisen out of this, and they are receiving their fee subsidy,” he said, adding staff were already on track to complete the review within the timeline proposed in councillor Lachica’s motion.
Councillor Keith Riel said he would support the motion, noting he had recently visited the Community Living Trent Highlands picket line on Aylmer Street.
“Most of them are women,” Riel said of the striking workers. “They are the sole breadwinner, but a lot of them are single mothers.”
Councillor Kevin Duguay said he supported the intent of the motion, but considered it redundant because staff had already committed publicly to reviewing the policy and reporting back by the end of September.
Councillor Lachica responded that the motion was an opportunity for council to demonstrate its political support for striking workers and to acknowledge the policy needed to change.
“There are times when a council needs to be responsive to an inequity when it’s pointed out and when it affects a swath of people in our community,” she said.
After some further debate on the motion, council voted on it. Because councillor Lachica introduced her motion under “other business,” it required the support of two-thirds of councillors present to pass.
The motion carried 8-2, with only Mayor Jeff Leal and councillor Duguay voting against it. While councillor Matt Crowley was absent from the meeting and did not vote, he had earlier posted on Facebook that he supported revising the city’s policy.
Items endorsed by general committee on August 4 will be considered by council for final approval the following Monday.
Peterborough and District Labour Council welcomed motion
Before councillor Lachica presented her motion to council, Steeves told kawarthaNOW the labour council welcomed the motion and anticipated council’s quick response to the concern.
“Workers should not lose access to essential child care supports simply because they are exercising their legal right to participate in a lawful strike,” Steeves said. “We encourage council to remove this barrier and ensure municipal policies respect workers’ rights while supporting families during times of labour disputes.”
Steeves said the situation also challenged the misconception that all unionized employees earn high incomes, noting many developmental service workers are single-income parents in lower-paying jobs and do not earn a living wage.
On Wednesday, Steeves acknowledged the passing of councillor Lachica’s motion.
“Thank you to those listened, stepped up, dug in and quickly made changes needed for our community at the city’s general committee last night,” she wrote on Facebook.
Coincidentally, Community Living Trent Highlands and OPSEU Local 358 jointly announced on Tuesday they had reached an agreement ending the strike after almost 11 weeks.
“The path forward is one of reconciliation and renewed strength,” the joint statement said. “As we return to full service delivery, we do so with appreciation for a community that continues to stand with us.”
