Kerry's Place workers in Peel and Wellington join CUPE

MARKHAM, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 7, 2015) - Developmental services workers from Kerry's Place Autism Services in the Region of Peel, as well as the Belwood Home site in the County of Wellington, recently voted to join the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). The 355 developmental services workers from Peel and Wellington will now join the existing 160 workers from Kerry's Place Southeast in Belleville, who are already members of CUPE.

"As we celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend, our newest CUPE members will join their fellow Kerry's Place Belleville unionized members and become part of the bigger CUPE family," said Daniela Scarpelli, CUPE National Representative, who helped organize the workers. "Our newest members are thankful they will now have a legitimate voice to improve their working and earning conditions."

"We are Canada's largest union and we have the resources, and our members will now have a formal mechanism in place to help them address workplace issues and make sure they are treated fairly and with respect," said Scarpelli. "While CUPE will help our members have a stronger voice in their workplace, our newest members will continue to focus on helping individuals and their families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder."

CUPE represents over 634,000 members in different sectors, including social services, hospitals, retirement and long-term care, universities, schools, municipalities, transportation and other sectors.