Workers at Kensington Health picket during contract talks over pay, vacation, disability
CUPE Local 4599 held an information picket Saturday as negotiations continue. Workers cite heavy workloads, stress, vacation restrictions, and lack of long-term disability benefits.
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Workers at Kensington Health Long-Term Care and Hospice in Toronto's Kensington Market held an information picket on Saturday, September 12, as contract negotiations continue between CUPE Local 4599 and the facility.
The union says workers are dealing with heavy workloads, stress, vacation restrictions, and a lack of long-term disability benefits. These issues have contributed to high turnover in the sector, according to the union.
Kensington Health said in a statement Toronto that it "appreciates the contributions of its workers and will remain an active participant in bargaining to reach a fair agreement." The facility has not disclosed the wages and benefits package it has offered in this round of talks.
The picket comes as labour actions across Ontario's long-term care sector have intensified. As HighOnCity reported in August, a broader disability care strike sparked months-long disruptions affecting families across the province. In July, striking OPSEU workers were marking eight weeks on picket lines.
The current staffing ratio at Kensington Health and the ratio CUPE Local 4599 is demanding have not been disclosed. The number of other Toronto long-term care facilities involved in labour action by CUPE Local 4599 in 2024 and 2025 is also unknown.
What wages and benefits package has Kensington Health proposed in these negotiations?
What is the current ratio of care workers to residents, and what ratio is the union seeking?
How many other Toronto long-term care homes represented by CUPE have taken labour action in the past year?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
What facility did CUPE Local 4599 picket on September 12, 2026?
CUPE Local 4599 held an information picket at Kensington Health Long-Term Care and Hospice in Toronto's Kensington Market on September 12, 2026, during ongoing contract negotiations.
What are the workers' main concerns?
Kensington Health workers cite heavy workloads, stress, vacation restrictions, and a lack of long-term disability benefits as key issues in their contract negotiations.
