After a 10-week work stoppage, two adolescent mental health professionals in Hamilton have expressed that union members are returning to their jobs feeling backed by the community but disregarded by the provincial government. Local 262 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) had been in discussions with Lynwood Charlton Centre, its employer, for several months. Members of this local union are among the first support workers in Ontario to reach an agreement after a large-scale strike earlier in the year.
Although workers at Lynwood Charlton are generally content with their new contract, Amanda Fry-Smith and Tamara Putland have raised concerns about the province, which is the primary funder of the center, neglecting requests for increased public funding in the sector. Both Fry-Smith and Putland have long tenures at the center, with 20 and 30 years of service, respectively. Lynwood Charlton Center offers various programs such as live-in treatment, day programs, in-home services, counseling, and facilitates access to other services for children and youth.
According to the most recent annual report, Lynwood Charlton served approximately 2,300 clients in the fiscal year 2024-2025, receiving $8.1 million in funding from Ontario’s Ministry of Health and $1.8 million from the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services. The strike involved around 130 members of Local 262 walking off the job on May 25, coinciding with approximately 4,000 support workers from various locals across Ontario initiating similar actions. OPSEU’s provincewide campaign, Worth Fighting For, highlighted these job actions.
The strike concluded after Lynwood Charlton agreed to mediation-arbitration with its workers at the end of July, resulting in a favorable agreement that includes a 16% pay increase over four years. Fry-Smith highlighted the impact of the workers’ campaign, emphasizing the significance of solidarity in achieving positive outcomes. The center’s operations are gradually returning to normal following the resumption of work on August 6, with programming and services being reinstated.
The workers’ efforts to address underfunding in the sector and unfair labor practices involved engaging with local politicians and filing multiple Unfair Labor Practice applications related to funding issues. The union is particularly concerned about Bill 124, which limited public-sector wage increases to one percent and was subsequently deemed unconstitutional. Despite challenges, workers remain steadfast in advocating for better conditions and resources in the child mental health services sector.