Community Living Walking the Picket Line

The picket lines are up in Haliburton County as more than 300 full and part time Community Living Trent Highlands staff have entered into a legal strike after the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and the Ontario Government failed to come to an agreement on the latest contract offer.Community Living Trent Highlands operate two homes in Haliburton and additional outreach services across the county for developmentally challenged youth and adults. Homes and outreach services are also delivered in Peterborough and the City of Kawartha Lakes. More than one thousand clients are served by the organization.Community Living staff have been in a legal strike position since last fall. After the Friday midnight deadline came and went, the union began preparing to strike. Picket lines are now up in all three communities served by Community Living Trent Highlands and local members were seen picketing near the library in Haliburton on Monday. Teresa Jordan, Executive Director for Community Living Trent Highlands spoke with Canoe FM Monday afternoon to explain what led the organization and its 300 full and part time staff to reluctantly walk off the job.