With the two-month anniversary of a strike by a dozen employees of Sudbury Counselling Services coming up next week, the workers' union, Steelworkers Local 2020, and their employer are back at the bargaining table.
The 12 counsellors went on strike Oct. 16, on the same day as faculty members at Ontario colleges also hit the picket lines.
The two sides returned to negotiations with help from a mediator Friday after the last set of talks broke off in mid-November.
United Steelworkers staff representative Lynne Descary said she's “cautiously optimistic” about the talks.
“The employer has remained steadfast on concessions and changes in language that are unnecessary and hinder the members' ability to perform their work and provide the services,” she said.
When asked about the issues behind the strike, Descary said she couldn't publicly elaborate “other than to tell you that the outstanding issues are the employer's.”
Carole Lamoureux, executive director of the Sudbury Counselling Centre, also said she didn't want to go into details.
“You can start the mud slinging in public, and it doesn't help,” she said. “We have to go back to work together someday. I like to keep it on the up and up.”
But Lamoureux does have a different message from Local 2020 about concessions.
“What I can share with you is we've made concessions,” she said. “I've heard the union say they can't do any more concessions and they've done all the concessions. For the record, we have made concessions.”
The Sudbury Counselling Centre is a non-profit organization that is mostly funded through taxpayers' dollars.
“We don't have any more money to negotiate with,” Lamoureux said. “The board is very concerned. They don't want to run a deficit.”
One thing the two women agree on is the negative impact the strike is having on the Sudbury Counselling Centre's clients.
The organization provides therapy to those with mental illness and couples with marital problems. It also delivers court-ordered programs for those convicted of impaired driving or partner abuse, among other services.
During the labour dispute, clients have been referred to other agencies in the community.
“Some clients have sought counselling service with private counsellors,” Lamoureux said. “If they have the money, they can go there. I'd say those who have suffered the most are poor clients who are referred to us by Ontario Works.”
The strike is having a “huge impact” on clients, Descary said.
“Especially getting into the Christmas season, people require the services far more at this time of year,” she said.
“Many people who suffer with mental illness, it's a very difficult time for them, a higher rate of suicide and so forth.”
Descary said it's difficult for clients to go to a new counsellor because of the relationship and trust that's been built up.
“You can't just walk into a new office with a new counsellor and expect to be able to pick up where you left off with the last counsellor, because that trust isn't there,” she said.
“Whatever breakthroughs and so forth that you had don't follow you to a new counsellor, really.”
Descary said the strike is having an “emotional impact” on her members, because they miss their work with clients.
“They can't provide the services and do the work they love to do,” she said. “That's a big one for them. That's a very big struggle for them, because they love their work.”
But Descary said her members remain in good spirits, despite the now-protracted labour dispute.
“They believe in their reason for being out on strike,” she said. “They believe that their clients will benefit from it when they return.”
