Canadian Hearing Services workers concerned about community impact as strike enters ninth week
Workers for Canadian Hearing Services (CHS) are still on strike, with their Employer refusing to come to the bargaining table or exchange demands.
“The community is suffering because of it. Eight weeks is a long time for us on the line but I’m sure it feels a lot longer for our community who have been without their mental health counsellors, without their audiology services, without their sign language interpreters for their doctor’s appointments,” said Amanda Seavers, CUPE 2073 picket captain.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 2073, which represents 206 workers across the province and 10 in London, filed an unfair labour practice on May 20 against CHS for illegal bargaining tactics that forced the Union into a strike position.
CHS is supposed to function like a community agency to support Deaf and hard of hearing communities. However, in their refusal to continue bargaining, CHS has left those communities without services and aren’t showing any signs of moving forward.
“CUPE 2073 have repeatedly offered dates. We have interpreters booked and ready to go. We have already made our proposal. We are taking all of the steps that we can towards bargaining and we are just getting told ‘no’ over and over again by the Employer,” said Seavers.
The bargaining teams last met on May 21, but CHS refused to table an offer or agree to new dates for bargaining. The Employer has ignored all requests since for additional bargaining dates.
The striking workers primarily expressed concerns for the impact that the Employer’s stalling tactics are having on Deaf and hard of hearing communities.
“It’s invisible work to many, because we work with the Deaf and hard of hearing community, if you are not a member of that community or someone close to you is, you might not see how important a part we are,” said Seavers. “It’s an honour and privilege to work in the community.”
CHS workers provide support for every area of life that can be potentially impacted by being Deaf or hard of hearing.
Impact on Deaf and hard of hearing communities
“Now CHS is closed and I can’t come here and go to school,” said Asklu, a Deaf community member from Eritrea in an interview with an interpreter. “I came here every day to learn and I’m preparing for my Citizenship test.”
Asklu first connected to CHS services through the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program. When she was initially placed in a classroom in London, she was the only Deaf person there.
She had been encouraged to come to Canada with her daughter for increased access to services.
“When I grew up in Africa, it was a secret I was Deaf. I had to hide that from everybody, or I would be assaulted. I had to pretend and walk around as if I were a hearing person,” said Asklu.
When she met her CHS settlement worker and was placed in a Deaf classroom, it was her first time having Deaf peers.
“Prior to coming to the LINC program here at CHS, my world was full of confusion and miscommunication. Finally, when I came here, I could sign. I was clear on what was happening.”
Jennifer Lynch, a Deaf CUPE 2073 member and Asklu’s settlement worker added through interpretation, “It’s one of my favourite success stories because it’s so inspiring that as a person who had to pretend she was hearing her whole life, and then to move here, and be able to openly be Deaf and to sign, to have access to information, and to clearly understand the world and what’s happening. It’s just so incredible and so inspiring.”
The last eight weeks have been difficult for Asklu. She’s worried about her progress and the Citizenship test with language and skill acquisitions.
“Now, I’m stuck at home all day,” she said. “Right now, I have no support, no access, and no help … It is really devastating.”
Rally for Support
On June 17, about 50 people from the community and sibling Unions came to the CUPE 2073 picket line at Cherryhill Village Mall for support. MPP Teresa Armstrong and MPP Terrance Kernaghan were also among those who attended.
“You want respect and value for your frontline workers,” said NDP MPP Teresa Armstrong. “The damage is being done to the Deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf Indigenous, and deafblind communities by you being left on strike. Those communities deserve an apology from Canadian Hearing Services.”
Armstrong made a commitment to call on the Ontario government to pressure the CHS CEO Julia Dumanian to get back to the bargaining table.
“She has increased her salary 178% over nine years,” added Armstrong.
“I want to thank you all for standing strong,” said NDP MPP Terence Kernaghan. “You’re not just standing up for yourselves, you’re standing up for the future of all workers.”
Both MPPs told workers to reach out to their offices for assistance if needed.
“When you walk the line, you walk the line for every single Union,” said Patti Dalton, President of the London and District Labour Council. “We support you 100 per cent, standing shoulder to shoulder with you.”
“We’ve never seen the likes of this – the attacks on democracy by the Ford government and the attacks on Unions are part of it. We need to fight back like never before.”
Dalton went on to speak about Bill 5 and the ability of the Ford government to contravene labour laws and Indigenous Treaty rights in the special economic zones. Indigenous communities have been leading the fightback against this omnibus legislation. The London community is encouraged to visit the CUPE 2073 picket line this week, between 9 am and 1 pm from Wednesday to Friday in front of Cherryhill Village Mall (301 Oxford St. W.). CUPE is also asking the public to participate in an email campaign to the CHS Board of Directors.