Kevin Cooke, communications officer in Meilleur’s office, said yesterday the minister can’t intervene in the labour dispute, which he said is strictly between the Community Living Associatiion of Lanark and the union representing its 93 striking employees.

Some parties in the dispute have expressed hope the minister might intervene to help resolve the dispute, since it’s her ministry that provides the association’s funding.

Association board members have said the agency is forced to living within its budget allocation from the province.

MPP Randy Hillier, meanwhile, says he hopes to learn why the strike at the four group homes run by the association has dragged on more than six weeks. The member of the legislature for Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington, told Lake88 yesterday he wants to meet with the executive director of the association of Lanark. He’s willing to offer his services in an effort to break the deadlock.
 
Hillier met last week with union officials to hear their position and has asked for a similar meeting with the agency.

Pat Cairns, vice-president of the community living association, said today the association is willing to meet the union with three priorities in mind: reaching an agreement that’s fair to its clients, that maintains the agency’s integrity enabling it to continue to exist and “one that’s fair to our employees, given our available resources.”

The strike by 93 group home workers began July 4th and no new talks are scheduled.