Windsor personal support workers on strike

About 10 support workers picketed in front of a Red Cross location at 3909 Grand Marais for strike action.

They work for Red Cross Care Partners and largely provide services to seniors in their homes.

Susan Friesen is one of those workers.

"We just need to be able to survive," she said. "It's not enough to cover gas, vehicles repairs, so unfortunately this is what we have to do."

"I'd rather be with my clients instead of out here," Friesen said, through tears. "But, we're out here and we're trying to get justice for everybody. We all have stories. We all have hardships. Hopefully we can get a little bit of an increase to help make it easier."

Roger Renaud, union representative SEIU Local 1 in Windsor, told CBC News the union is trying to get the workers better wages.

"They're lowly paid," he said. "These people are taking care of our loved ones and are not being compensated fairly."

The average rate is about $15 per hour. The union said they would like to see that number closer to $20 per hour.

There are approximately 55 employees affected in Windsor.

About 4,500 unionized personal support workers across the province have gone on strike today to protest what they say are "poverty level wages."

The workers have been in a legal strike position for several weeks and recently voted to reject a tentative agreement.

Union president Sharleen Stewart says the workers are tired of being pushed around and taken for granted.