TORONTO, ON – The revelation that the public sector pension plan, OMERS has been using tax havens to avoid their tax obligation has come as a shock to CUPE Ontario that represents the largest group of the pension plans membership. Tax avoidance is no way to fund a pension plan, says Fred Hahn, the union’s…
KINGSTON, ON – Members of CUPE Locals 109 (Marine Services) and 2290 (Fairmont Homes) will rally outside Frontenac County Council meeting on Wednesday morning. Members of both locals have been in bargaining with the County for some time, and they are gathering before the Council meeting to chat with councillors and members of the public…
TORONTO, ON – Publicly, St. Michael’s Hospital (St. Mike’s) says it values and respects its staff. But inside the hospital, that’s not what’s happening. Long-time staff are being fired without cause or being offered employment at another area of the hospital. A 20-year chaplain and four clerical staff were recently terminated. There is pressure on…
December 14, 2017, marks Parkdale High Park NDP MPP Cheri Di Novo’s last day in the Ontario Legislature. The activist MPP is set to resign her seat and return to her first calling as a United Church Minister. Cheri has been a good friend to CUPE Ontario members and leaves gigantic shoes to fill.…
The following delegates from the Racial Justice and Human Rights Conference 2017 were elected to the respective committees for a two year term: Aboriginal Council Dawn Bellerose, Local 1880 Larry Giffin, Local 3798 Miaco Kuzyk-Hildebrand, Local 4207 Racial Justice Yetti Atilola, Local 1750 Joy Davis, Local 4400 Michael Gordon, Local 1483 Rebecca Jegeshar, Local 79…
TORONTO, ON – In an uncommon show of opposition to changes to paramedic pre-hospital medical care, dozens of paramedics from several communities are protesting at the Ontario Legislature tomorrow (Tuesday, December 12 at 10:00 a.m.) amendments to the Ambulance Act they believe will hurt patients needing emergency medical care. The government plans third and…
Public-private partnerships (P3s) are once again drawing the criticism of Ontario’s auditor general, in her 2017 annual report. In 2014, Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk’s wide-ranging report exposed major problems with Infrastructure Ontario’s entire P3 privatization program, known in the province as Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP). Her 2016 and 2017 reports continue to highlight…
December 10 is International Human Rights Day. On this day in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each December 10th, it’s important for us to reflect on the important gains we have made in advancing human rights in our province that flow directly from this declaration. It’s also…
Sisters & Brothers, Comrades & Friends, As 2017 draws to a close, let’s reflect on the significant victories that we’ve accomplished together this year. Thanks to the work of CUPE Ontario members, our partners in labour and our community allies, we were successful in getting the Ontario government to pass Bill 148 and legislate real…
TORONTO, ON – Terminations of long-time employees without cause. Violations of basic employment standards using aggressive tactics to force staff to sign agreements to work excess hours and work eight and ten days in a row. All shocking behaviour associated with employers with tarnished reputations. But this is happening at Toronto’s prestigious St. Michael’s Hospital (St.…
