After more than two months of being out of a job and spreading their message on the streets of Outlook about a need for fair compensation and wages, direct care workers from Variety Place went back to work this week after finally reaching agreeable terms with management.
SEIU-West, the union representing the workers, accepted Variety Place’s most recent bargaining proposal, and the new agreement was ratified in a vote held on Friday, July 28.
With that, staff returned to work two days later on Sunday afternoon, putting an end to the lockout that started back on May 21.
“We look forward to catching up with our participants and residents,” said Carmela Verwimp, SEIU-West Unit Chair of Variety Place in a released statement. “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen them and we hope that they are doing well and are excited to get back to normal.”
“There are still some Occupational Health & Safety concerns that need to be resolved but our members remain hopeful that they can be worked out with the employer,” added Barbara Cape, President of SEIU-West. “We are glad that this impasse has been resolved and we are thankful for all support our members received from their local community and the broader Labour movement.”
The lockout period was a tense situation that was unlike anything seen in the Outlook business sector before. With a growing amount of statements, views, opinions, and financial facts and information being spread around like wildfire on platforms such as social media, the public seemed to be divided on the issues between Variety Place care workers and management.
On one side were supporters of the workers, with many of them honking and waving as the care staff made the vacant business space at the four-way corner of McKenzie Street and Saskatchewan Avenue in Outlook their headquarters.
On the other side were supporters of management, many being parents of Variety Place participants who pleaded with workers to come to an agreement with the association.
Now, as staff return to work and it’s back to business for everyone at Variety Place, the focus shifts from back-and-forth verbal mud-slinging and moves back to the participants and their daily needs.
