Image shows the inside of Sunnyside, a long-term care home, with bright green walls and a large wooden sign that says "Life is Beautiful." A few of the home's residents are in the photo's background.

Ontario LTCs brought in entry-level assistants during the pandemic. Will they play a role in nursing homes’ future?

As nursing homes prepare for the end of pandemic emergency orders, operators want a permanent role for new, low-paid workers. But advocates like CUPE Ontario’s Candace Rennick question the use of inexperienced staff with vulnerable residents, saying it is a “very sad policy choice.” Called “resident support assistants,” the entry-level job was approved by a…

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CUPE Local 416 reaches tentative agreement with Toronto Parking Authority

Toronto, ON— Workers at Toronto Parking Authority, who are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 416, have reached a tentative agreement and avoided a possible lockout or strike. “Our expressed goal at the bargaining table is to protect Toronto’s critical parking infrastructure that we need now more than ever as we…

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Image shows Doug Ford at a press conference smiling at the camera.

Doug Ford’s Government Quietly Cut Over $100 Million for Protecting School Children From COVID-19

The line item, the FAO notes, which covers “funding to support the implementation of public health protocols in schools” received $702 million in 2020-21. This year, the province is budgeting $569 million in 2021-22,. That’s a reduction of about $133 million. At the same time, according to the report, local school boards have spent $391…

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Anaya Toelly, Stephanie Kocielski and Betty Yakimenko have family members at Madonna Care Community in Orleans, Ont., which experienced a COVID-19 outbreak early in the pandemic. They recently attended a rally in Ottawa to raise awareness about a number of issues with the long-term care system. (Jean Delisle/CBC)

As the COVID-19 pandemic began, long-term care staff were voicing concerns to Ontario’s Ministry of Labour

“There was no real sense of urgency or understanding or acceptance of how critical the situation actually was. And in the case of Madonna, you know, that situation proved to be fatal — not just for workers, but for … several residents as well,” said Candace Rennick, a former PSW and an executive with CUPE…

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CUPE city and community care workers deliver Thanksgiving dinners amidst increasing food insecurity in Windsor

WINDSOR, ON – Over 600 Thanksgiving gift hampers will be distributed to individuals and families in need in Windsor this Friday as part of a charity drive by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in partnership with the Windsor-Essex Food Bank Association. The hampers have been packed by municipal and community care workers represented…

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Whitby city workers’ union donates to Durham food program, calls for systemic changes to address affordability crisis

WHITBY, ON – Emphasizing the needs of vulnerable community members, CUPE Local 53 has donated $2,000 to the Feed the Need program in Durham Region as food bank demand rises through the pandemic. “Our union members have always believed that we should help the most marginalized members of our community,” said Rob Radford, president. “We…

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“Because care can’t wait”, CUPE encourages Ontario LTC minister to make good on four-hour care standard in new Act, funding for new RPN, PSW hiring

TORONTO, ON – There is cautious optimism from Ontario’s largest health care union – the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario – following a provincial government announcement today that promises money for long-term care homes to hire additional staff now and a four-hour care standard in a new revamped Long-Term Care Homes Act. “While…

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85 per cent of direct COVID-19 measures came from the Federal government as Ford Conservatives evade responsibility: CUPE Ontario

TORONTO, ON – The Ford government has underspent and has passed the buck to the Federal government when it comes to measures in response to COVID-19, said the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario. “This week, Doug Ford launched his re-election bid with an advertising campaign billing him as a big spender, but yet…

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“Out of touch with reality”: Wellesley Township Council backs anti-worker proposals and anti-vaxxer negotiator

WELLESLEY TOWNSHIP, ON – At a time when municipalities are striving for workforce stability and ways to lead by example, Wellesley Township Council is going in the other direction, says the president of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1542 (CUPE 1542). Council’s recent decisions to attack municipal workers’ rights in bargaining while spending money…

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Toronto Parking Authority workers initiate countdown to legal job action; employer yet to respond to union’s latest proposals

Toronto, ON—Toronto Parking Authority workers are at the bargaining table and have been since day one, waiting for the employer to immediately come back to the table and negotiate a deal to avoid a labour disruption. The employer has had ample time to respond to the union’s reasonable proposals and unnecessary delays are putting the…

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