Canadian Hearing Services workers across Ontario enter ninth week of strike

Workers with Canadian hearing Services have been out on the picket line for nearly two months. 

Over 200 unionized employees — including counsellors, audiologists and interpreters who assist individuals who are hard of hearing, deaf or deafblind -– walked off the job across Ontario on April 28. 

CUPE Local 2073 president Mara Waern says the union is working with a mediator to get both sides back to the negotiating table, after talks broke down last mo

"Effectively, there hasn't been any formal bargaining," Waern said, while on the picket line on the corner of Regent and Riverside streets in Sudbury Wednesday morning. 

"The employer gave us their best offer, and we've not been allowed to have any further negotiations, really beyond that point."

But Waern's optimistic about the ongoing conversation to return to negotiations and said during arbitration "there will be a 48-hour media blackout for both sides." 

"I know all the members want to be back serving the clients that we treasure," Waern said. "It's been hard on the clients. I know it's been hard on the staff, but the work that we do, it's about access and inclusion, and our staff have to be fairly compensated for that."

Clients 'waiting for us to return to work'

Tammy Dubreuil, a general support counsellor with Canadian Hearing Services in Sudbury, said it's been a long nine weeks on the picket line, but remains hopeful that she'll be able to return to work soon. 

"We've had a lot of support from the clients. I think a lot of them are just sitting tight and waiting for us to return to work, and I'm excited to hopefully get back to work very soon," she said. 

Late Wednesday, the two sides agreed to return to the bargaining table. 

On its website, Canadian Hearing Services said it remains committed to negotiating a responsible collective agreement.