Public health workers at the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit could be headed towards a strike.
CUPE Local 543.03 represents around 125 members who work as public health inspectors, social workers, oral health specialists, and tobacco and vaping enforcement officers. The strike vote was unanimous.
"We're really advocating for our membership to, at least, have something a little more substantial so that we can be a little bit more financially secure," said Leah Murphy, unit chair.
She said the staff is looking for wages and benefits more in line with other public health employees in the province.
A strike date has not been determined. Both sides are still negotiating.
"We've always wanted to work with the employer because we want to improve recruitment, we want to improve our retention. Unfortunately, with the wages that we currently have, we are losing qualified staff who are moving on to better-paying jobs," said Murphy.
The current contract expired December 31, 2025.
