To  apply for the Hardship Fund:

1. Member must be in good standing with the Union.
2. Member has exhausted any other options i.e. savings, investments, insurance policies, stocks, bonds and show proof of such.
3. A member must have received strike pay for at least three days or 15 hours.
4. Member has explained and can show the nature of unexpected hardship
   (Note: being on strike is not of itself considered an eligible hardship.)
5. An applicant must provide the committee with a declaration of all income earned by their household for the period of the strike.

Please note:

1. Financial assistance will be paid only in cases of undue hardship.
2. Coverage for rent or mortgage payments will only be considered if efforts to defer these are not successful.
3. All requests for assistance should be channelled through the appropriate Local Hardship Committee, if applicable, and will be handled with the greatest regard for confidentiality by the Regional Hardship Committee.
4. Payments from the Local Hardship Fund will be considered either a grant or an interest-free loan.

Download the Local Strike Hardship Fund Application here.

Regional Hardship Fund

For members who have financial issues before the strike can look into applying for help from OPSEU’s Regional Hardship Fund.

The regional hardship fund is to assist OPSEU members in good standing who are experiencing unexpected and/or temporary financial hardship. The regional hardship fund provides emergency financial assistance to eligible OPSEU members based on need, duration and available budget.

Download the Regional Hardship Fund Application here.

Cheques will NOT be distributed on Tuesday, September 20 as previously announced due to all members returning to work.

Email local559_strikepay@yahoo.com with any concerns.

Pay cheques are still to be distributed according to the schedule that was posted.

The cheques will be available for pickup as follows:

• Ashtonbee Picket Line – Monday September 19 from 8:00 am to 10:30 am
• Progress Trailer – Monday September 19 from 11:30 am to 2:00 p
• Ashtonbee Head Quarters – Tuesday September 20 from 11:00 am to 1:00 p
• HP and CCC – Tuesday September 20 from 10:00 am to11:00 am