Standing Together: Why This Strike Is About More Than Just CCAs

I am a CCA, and I am currently on strike—but I’m not just striking for myself. I’m striking in solidarity with my peers and coworkers.

This is about more than CCAs. This is about the people I work alongside every single day—my friends in service support, recreation, housekeeping, dietary, and laundry.

People don’t always see what goes on behind the scenes.

Laundry workers? I know what goes into those baskets—the smell, the weight, the reality of it. These workers handle hundreds of pounds of laundry every single day for over 100 residents. Personal clothing, soaked towels, linens from daily care—washed, dried, folded, sorted—day in and day out. It’s constant, physical, and often overlooked work.

Dietary? Imagine being responsible for feeding two floors—24 residents—often on your own. Serving meals, restocking kitchens, doing dishes, supporting residents… all while sometimes facing frustration when someone isn’t happy with what’s on their plate. It’s not just food service—it’s care.

Recreation might sound fun—and it can be—but it’s also a huge responsibility. Planning activities, booking entertainment, fundraising, going room to room encouraging participation, supporting resident council, organizing holidays… all while carrying the emotional weight of making sure residents feel connected, engaged, and not forgotten.

Housekeeping? It’s far more than “just cleaning.” It’s 12 rooms, plus hallways, every single day. Working around residents and their personal belongings, maintaining cleanliness and dignity, sweeping and mopping entire floors. Cleaning washrooms , common areas, and often stepping in to help wherever needed.

Then contract time comes… and time after time, these workers are overlooked. Offered next to nothing compared to others.

During COVID, some workers were rightfully called heroes. But where was that same recognition for everyone else? Housekeeping helped prevent the spread. Dietary kept residents nourished and healthy. Laundry workers handled contaminated linens. Recreation staff found ways to bring connection during isolation.

They showed up. Every day. Just like the rest of us.

This strike is hard on everyone. It’s not easy to walk away from the people we care for. But even our residents understand—because they see us. They see the work, the effort, the care that goes into what we do.

Call us greedy if you want.

But if we were greedy, we would take a deal that benefits only us and leaves our coworkers behind.

We’re not doing that.

Because it’s not right. It hasn’t been right for a long time.

And we’re standing together to finally make it right.