LONDON, Ont. — Workers with Canadian Hearing Services have been on strike for eight weeks, demanding the employer return to the bargaining table after talks collapsed and their collective agreement expired.
Amanda Seavers, a program assistant and picket captain with CUPE Local 2073 in London has been outside of Cherryhill Village Mall everyday.
The previous collective agreement expired on March 31. Seavers said that in most cases, the existing agreement stays in place while bargaining continues — but that didn’t happen this time.
The strike has impacted both staff and the clients they serve, many of whom are deaf or hard of hearing.
“We’ve had clients showing up at the office not knowing we’re closed. Some are confused, some are angry, and many just feel abandoned,” said Seavers. “They’ve been without crucial services — interpreters, counselling, job support — for two months now.”
The union says the strike is not just about wages.
“We’re roughly 16 per cent behind inflation, yes, but it’s more than that,” said Seavers. “This is about protecting the services our clients rely on and ensuring the staff who provide them aren’t being burned out.”
Staffing levels have dropped significantly over the last decade, she said.
“Ten years ago, CHS had about 500 employees across Ontario. Now it’s just over 200. That’s more than half the workforce gone,” she said. “In London, only four of us were left working in person before the strike. You can’t run an accessible province-wide service on skeleton staffing.”
Seavers also said staff are dealing with an increasingly heavy emotional and mental load.
“We’re helping people navigate job loss, trauma, and communication barriers — in some cases, in languages most people don’t even speak. ASL, LSQ — these are deeply skilled roles,” she said. “It’s exhausting, and without proper support or compensation, it becomes unsustainable.”
CUPE Local 2073 has repeatedly asked Canadian Hearing Services to return to bargaining, but says the employer hasn’t budged.
“They haven’t met with us since the strike began,” Seavers said. “We’ve asked to go back to the table. We’ve offered dates. Silence.”
She said the union is seeking a multi-year agreement with cost-of-living adjustments and protections for both clients and staff.
“We’re not asking for anything outrageous. We just want stability — for ourselves, and for the people who depend on us,” she said. “Renegotiating every single year wastes resources, especially when CHS receives public funding.”
Despite the challenges, Seavers said morale on the picket line remains strong.
“It’s hard — emotionally, financially — but we’re standing together. We know what we’re fighting for,” she said. “We want to go back to work. But not at any cost. We need to know the next time we serve our community, we’re doing it with a contract that respects our work and protects our clients.”
The strike continues outside Canadian Hearing Services’ London office at Cherryhill Mall. There is no indication yet when talks might resume.
