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Nearly 125 Unifor members at Community Living Dryden–Sioux Lookout have ratified new collective agreements that improve care and provide significant improvements to wages, benefits and working conditions.
“These agreements represent important progress for workers who provide essential support services in their communities,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Community Living workers play a critical role supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our society, and it’s important that their wages, benefits and working conditions reflect the value of the work they do every single day.”
Unifor members at Community Living Dryden-Sioux Lookout provide all levels of support for individuals with developmental disabilities living in both Dryden and Sioux Lookout.
“Our members stood together and made it clear they expected meaningful improvements during this round of bargaining,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi. “These agreements deliver important gains that recognize the work our members do while helping strengthen stability in a sector that many families in these regions depend on.”
The new three-year agreements run from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2028 and include a number of key monetary gains, including wage increases totalling $2.10 per hour over the life of the contract and a signing bonus of up to $1,500 for full-time workers. Top wage rates will reach $37.95 by September 1, 2027.
“With rock-solid support from Unifor members in Dryden and Sioux Lookout, we achieve a strong deal that we will continue building on,” said Unifor Local 324 President Katrina Peterson. “Recent 100 per cent strike votes helped overcome the bargaining impasse we faced and allowed us to secure important language and monetary gains in both agreements.”
The three-year contracts also include the implementation of a defined benefit CAAT pension plan beginning in 2026, improved health spending accounts, increased mileage and meal allowances, enhanced vision care coverage and additional bereavement leave provisions.
Members of Unifor Local 324-12 in Dryden voted 92.5 per cent in favour of their new agreement during meetings held March 9 and 10. Meanwhile, members of Unifor Local 324-16 in Sioux Lookout voted unanimously, with 100 per cent support for their new contract.
