The union representing 40 workers who care for mentally disabled people in Espanola was ordered by the Human Rights Commission to run a newspaper advertisement.
The advertisement, which ran in the Dec. 22 edition of Northern Life, stated CUPE Local 2462 has a policy of combating racism.
The advertisement was part of the settlement imposed on the union by the Human Rights Commission.
The complaint was made against the local by Mila Wong, the executive director of Community Living Espanola, during a 10-week strike in 2005.
Wong is also the executive director of Sudbury Developmental Services. She could not be reached for comment at press time.
However, Wong, who is of Spanish and Chinese descent, told Northern Life during the strike that one of the strikers was carrying a placard with a racist comment.
“The sign said, 'It's all Chinese to me,' and there were little Chinese signs at the bottom. I'm sure it's made up, although I can't read Chinese...It's a disappointment that in 2005, you have people who are overtly racist,” she told the newspaper.
The other side of the same sign asked “What's Wong with this picture?”
The union's Dec. 22 ad said: “In reference to Human Rights Complaint filed by Mila Wong of Community Living Espanola, CUPE Local 2462 affirms that its policy is to promote equality and diversity and to combat racism in all its forms. Actions to the contrary of this policy will not be condoned.”
Anna Sweet, a spokesperson for CUPE, says, “It's not an admission by any means. It's affirming that this is our policy. It's part of the settlement that was reached. That's all I can say about it.”
Tensions between Community Living Espanola and the union were high during the strike because replacement workers were used to care for clients.
The union was looking for a wage increase during the strike, and eventually got what it was looking for. Wong had originally said the organization was too underfunded to provide the pay hike.
Sudbury Developmental Services narrowly avoided a strike in the spring of 2005 after 55 percent of CUPE Local 2599 workers voted in favour of the contract offered by administration.
Wong was parachuted in to run Community Living Espanola in 2004 after financial problems arose with a previous administration.
Sweet says CUPE Local 2462 and CUPE Local 2599 will be negotiating with Wong again soon because the collective agreements for Sudbury Developmental Services and Community Living Espanola expire March 31.
CUPE also represents support care workers on Manitoulin Island, and their collective agreement expires at the same time.
“One can always hope (negotiations will go well this time),” says Sweet. “We will be having some communication coming out as things progress.”
