Unrest at Harmony in Action.
The centre, which helps adults living with developmental or physical disabilities, recently became a unionized workplace after the dozen or so employees ratified a deal with Unifor Local 240.
An annual general meeting erupted Thursday night when the union made a push to join the organization's Board of Directors.
Harmony in Action President, Dawn Melville, says no notice was given and she has caught off guard by the heavy union presence at the meeting.
She says she's questioning what motivated the whole ordeal adding some parents are the meeting were very upset and felt like the union's actions were highly inappropriate.
Crédit photo: Harmony in Action, October 6, 2016 (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
Tim Baxter played a big part in bringing Unifor to Harmony in Action and says staff have been unhappy with the board for quite some time and wanted to send a clear message that they want the board gone.
Baxter says the board needs to re-emphasizes how important it is for the clients to be the focus of attention adding in order to do that you need to have a staff that wants to be there.
Melville says Harmony's AGM's typically see about 10 to 20 people in attendance, but she knew something was up when close to 50 Unifor members arrived.
Union members were sold Harmony in Action 'membership cards' and were told they'd have a chance to vote on who sits on the Board of Directors.
That vote never happened and the meeting was abruptly adjourned without any resolution.