One Small Revolution: Unionization, Community Practice, and Workload in Child Welfare

This article presents the finding from a community based research project reflecting workers' retrospective analysis of the enduring effects of a strike over issues of workload. The 273 bargaining unit members of CUPE Local 2190 took a stand against fundamental changes to their work processes resulting in standardization of practice and the introduction of neo-conservative/neo-liberal values to child welfare services in the province of Ontario, Canada. Workers utilized the rights afforded them through their collective agreement, collaboration with the labor movement as well as the skills and techniques of community practice to engage in resistance and challenge workload from inside and outside the system.