Developmental Service Workers Locked Out in Ingersoll

Wednesday, 27 May 2026 10:25

A picket line is underway in Dewan Park, all in support of the Worth Fighting For campaign.

INGERSOLL - Developmental service workers have hit the picket line in Ingersoll.

They have been protesting at Dewan Park over the past few days, after they were locked out by Ingersoll Support Services.

After unsuccessful bargaining at the table, President of OPSEU Local 172 Ange Hutson says they set a strike date for Monday, May 25th at 1:00 a.m. and this was the response they received.

"Our employer forced a vote on us for a final offer, which was defeated with 80 percent of the membership voting no. Within a couple of hours of receiving those results, he informed us that we were going to be locked out that night starting Saturday, May 23rd at 12:01 a.m."

Hutson has not heard anything from the employer since.

This strike is all part of the province-wide Worth Fighting For campaign. It's calling for not only better provincial funding, but also fair wages, safe staffing, and stable supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

Bob Ekins, the Lead Steward for OPSEU Local 172, says the sector has been underfunded for over a decade, and it's causing a lot of strain.

"We have incredible staff turnover and burnout. Families are not happy with the constant change of faces amongst the staff, it's very difficult for the people we support to have achievements when the relationships they're trying to build with their support people are constantly in flux."

Ingersoll Support Services supports people with developmental disabilities in the community. It provides not only residential 24 hour support, but also respite supports and day supports.

Ekins says the picket line has received lots of support from local businesses, the family members of the people they support, and others who want to learn more about the Worth Fighting For campaign.

He ended his Heart FM interview with the following comment.

"We're not out here because we want to. We're out here because we are fighting the good fight! We're doing this not just for wages, but also to make the system better for the people that we support and their families that care deeply about them."

Huston also had this to add.

"It's unfortunate that is came down to a lockout from our employer. We tried to give him the notice that we were going to go out Monday but he decided he couldn't wait to get his contingency plan in gear, so here we are."