“It’s time for immediate action in long-term care”: a coalition of unions representing frontline healthcare workers respond to Ontario’s long-term care commission

COVID-19, Health Care

(TORONTO, ON) — SEIU Healthcare, CUPE Ontario, and Unifor, unions that represent healthcare workers across the long-term care sector, released the following joint statement in response to Ontario’s newly-announced commission into long-term care: “Elderly residents and frontline workers were let down by their government during the initial response to COVID-19. We saw the impacts of…

Hundreds of thousands of front-line heroes left behind as more of the province enters Stage 3: CUPE Ontario

COVID-19, Solidarity

(TORONTO, ON) With the Provincial state of emergency ended, and nearly all of Ontario entering Stage 3 of reopening, front-line workers are still subject to unnecessarily prolonged emergency orders with the recent passage of Bill 195, according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario. As of this Friday, residents in Toronto and Peel…

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Opening Ontario schools safely amid COVID could require up to $3.2 billion funding for staff, cleaning supplies, say Liberals, staff union

COVID-19 media stories

Laura Walton, who heads CUPE’s school bargaining unit, said the amount the union recommends is a 2.1 per cent increase in education spending for the upcoming school year, and is the minimum needed. It is based on lessons learned from CUPE workers in other sectors who have continued working during the pandemic, she added. “We…

Canadian singer-songwriter, Sarah Harmer, performing Facebook concert session in support of “CARE NOT PROFITS” advocacy campaign to reinvest profits back into the long-term care system

COVID-19, Health Care

TORONTO — On Thursday, July 30 at 8:00pm EDT, Canadian singer-songwriter, Sarah Harmer, will perform a Facebook Live concert session in support of the “Care Not Profits” advocacy campaign to end for-profit long-term care delivery in Ontario. The platinum selling artist is adding her voice to the growing chorus of families demanding an end to…

As universities eye reopening, student and worker safety taking a back seat, warns CUPE University workers

COVID-19, University

TORONTO, ON – As universities across Ontario begin planning for reopening in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and safety of workers and students appears to be taking a back seat to other considerations, the Chair of CUPE Ontario’s University Workers’ Coordinating Committee (OUWCC) warned today. “Over and over again, we are seeing…

End profit in long-term care, reinvest in more residents’ supports and staffing, urge advocates in new “CARE NOT PROFITS” campaign

COVID-19, Health Care, Uncategorized

TORONTO, ON – Ontarians are being urged to join a growing call for profound changes to the province’s long-term care system that would end profit-making in the provision of residential care. Today, SEIU Healthcare, CUPE, and Unifor, unions that represent workers across the long-term care sector, invited families to demand reforms from Premier Doug Ford…

Ford Conservatives’ all-out attack on Ontarians: CUPE Ontario commits to fighting three new laws

Bill 195, COVID-19, Governmental, Solidarity

(TORONTO, ON) The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario is calling the passing of three pieces of legislation yesterday by the Ford Conservatives an all-out attack on Ontarians that they will oppose. The province passed Bill 195, which extends emergency orders despite the legislation itself declaring the end of the state of emergency. According…