On May 19, 2017, the North York Women’s Shelter (NYWS) closed its doors and laid off 32 women from OPSEU Local 518 who worked as domestic violence counsellors and support staff, assisting women and children trying to rebuild their lives after fleeing domestic violence.

Women and children fleeing domestic violence in Ontario already can’t always get the help they need.  Yet in North York, we’ve just added to the problem of not being able to get help.  While the reason for closing is the rebuilding of a new shelter.  That new shelter will take approx. 2 years to build, leaving women and children without aid in their time of need.

This is not acceptable. Every community in this country needs violence-against-women services. And North York, with a population of over 670,000 people, is no exception.

Please ‘Learn More’ and sign the petition to urge the Minster of Community and Social Services to reinstate violence-against-women services and jobs in North York.

Members of Local 518 are asking that you take the time to sign the petition at: http://www.change.org/p/bring-violence-against-women-services-back-to-north-york

Learn more at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EYu7v8C0Ms