“We Must Reach Beyond Partial Liberation”: CUPE Ontario celebrates Emancipation Day 2021

One hundred and eighty-seven years ago today, on 1 August 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act took effect marking the legal end slavery across the British Empire. The Act emancipated over 800,000 enslaved Africans across the Caribbean and South America. As educator and historian Natasha L. Henry notes, many enslaved Africans in British North America received…

Ford Conservatives‘ ‘hands off, head in sand’ approach to campus reopenings put Safe September, university students and workers at risk

Statement from OUWCC Chair David Simao and CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn regarding Ministry of Colleges and Universities directives on re-opening post-secondary institutions in September. No amount of magical thinking on Doug Ford’s or Minister Jill Dunlop’s part will make the risk of transmission fall to a level that allows universities to simply throw open…

Toronto community housing workers trigger countdown to legal job action to enhance services for residents

Toronto, ON — Workers at the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79, are bargaining to enhance safety, improve quality, and ensure affordability for Torontonians who rely on social housing. The union has requested a “no-board” report from the Ministry of Labour, following TCHC’s targeting of…

Sudbury hospital workers tell Ontario government, HSN that a wage cut and attack on working conditions, not the thanks “pandemic heroes” can accept

SUDBURY, ON – Hospital workers in Sudbury took a visible stand today, rallying outside Health Sciences North (HSN), frustrated with the “lack of respect” they are getting from both their hospital employer and the provincial government in contract negotiations. Provincial bargaining for nearly 70,000 registered practical nurses, personal support workers, clerical, cleaning, maintenance, dietary and…

“Policing is not a housing strategy”: CUPE Ontario’s statement in support of unhoused residents and allies at Lamport Stadium

Like many of you, we witnessed the needless police violence against unhoused residents and allies yesterday at Lamport Stadium. Let us be clear: policing – of residents, of demonstrators, of media – is not a housing strategy. Addressing housing and homelessness across this province requires deep care, compassion, and commitment – not handcuffs and pepper…

Hamilton/Niagara hospital workers first to tell Ontario government, hospital employers that a wage cut and attack on working conditions, not the thanks “pandemic heroes” can accept

HAMILTON/NIAGARA, ON – Hamilton and Niagara hospital workers took a visible stand today, rallying outside area hospitals, frustrated with the “lack of respect” they are getting from both their hospital employers and the provincial government in contracts negotiations. Provincial bargaining for nearly 70,000 registered practical nurses, personal support workers, clerical, cleaning, maintenance, dietary and other…

Workers at Toronto Parking Authority vote to authorize strike action

TORONTO, ON – CUPE Local 416 members at Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) have voted overwhelmingly in favor of strike action, if necessary, as both parties await the appointment of a conciliation offer to help resolve differences at the bargaining table. CUPE Local 416 applied for conciliation on July 9. A provincially appointed conciliation officer has…