Women fleeing violence threatened further by shelter operators’ decision to force lockout/strike deadline

OTTAWA, ON – Maison d’amitié, which operates the only two francophone shelters in Ottawa, is putting vulnerable women and children at risk by imposing a three-week deadline to reach a deal with its unionized employees, say frontline workers at the Ottawa refuge. Frontline workers at Maison d’amitié – which employs an entirely female workforce to…

Pilot project that brings private autism therapy operators into schools raises alarms: CUPE Ontario

TORONTO, ON – Aspects of a pilot project announced by the Ministry of Education today for students with autism are raising alarm bells about the future of fully accessible, public education in the province, say CUPE Ontario education workers. “We represent 13,000 Educational Assistants who work hard, with other Board employees and parents, to develop…

Permanent hospital beds are what communities need – Major hospital rally planned Friday in Ottawa

OTTAWA, ON – Ontario’s hospital bed shortage is a chronic condition that “won’t be alleviated by the small number of temporary beds the province announced this week. Underfunded hospitals and sick patients who truly have nowhere to go and the pressures of an aging and growing population require permanent resources for that,” says Michael Hurley president…

‘Great people are what make our libraries great’: Cornwall library workers celebrate Library Week

CORNWALL, ON – Public library workers in Cornwall, members of Local 3251-01 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 3251-01), and their supporters, are celebrating Ontario Public Library Week with a message that, in addition to having great patrons, great libraries depend on great workers. “We’re very proud of the relationship we have developed…