With fond remembrance and deep gratitude, we mark the life of Stephen Lewis, a beloved comrade, tireless champion of social justice, ally of all working people and great friend to CUPE Ontario. We honour Stephen for his lifetime of activism, action and compassion, from his years spent leading the Ontario New Democrats to the foundation…
St. Catherines, ON – In a sign of Niagara’s deepening emergency services crisis, paramedics, dispatchers, and occupational therapists with CUPE 911 voted 99 per cent in favour of strike action last week, with 82 per cent of members voting. The overwhelming strike mandate follows years of surging call volumes, falling response times for the most…
March 27, 2026 The Government of Ontario’s 2026-27 provincial budget continues the chronic underfunding of social services in our communities. The need for social services continues to grow, but without government funding to meet this need, this translates to cuts: Increased wait times and reduced service levels for vulnerable residents looking for mental health services, child care, developmental services, housing supports, social assistance and child protection. CUPE members in social services see the…
Ottawa, ON – Workers at the Rockcliffe Flying Club filed to join CUPE in December 2025 after raising concerns about workplace culture and aircraft safety. Instead of respecting those concerns and letting workers exercise their right to join a union, the employer has responded with delay, pressure, and retaliation. What should have been the straightforward…
TORONTO – On Thursday the Toronto Catholic District School Board announced that they will completely eliminate its long-standing International Languages Program, resulting in 77 dedicated language instructors losing their jobs. “This is a devastating and short-sighted decision,” said Val Di Gregorio, President of CUPE 3155, representing the language instructors. “For decades, this program has enriched…
Sault Ste. Marie – On the same day that hundreds of Algoma Steel employees worked their last shift, Sault Ste. Marie city council took an important stand for unionized workers and public services in the city, voting down a motion to privatize municipal garbage services. “This is not simply about budgets. It’s about public safety,…
The president of Ontario’s largest public sector union blasted the Ford Conservatives’ cuts – and their outright lies about of the cuts – contained in the 2026-27 budget released by the Minister of Finance yesterday. “The Conservatives’ budget has extra funding for police in schools – but it cuts per-student funding for schools. The budget…
TORONTO – The real dollar hospital funding cut announced in the 2026 provincial budget will intensify the crisis in Ontario’s hospitals, which are already funded at the lowest rate in the country, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees. “The government increased hospital funding by four per cent – a real cut of two per…
WINDSOR/BRANT, ON – Workers at Community Living agencies in Windsor and Brant have overwhelmingly rejected employer-imposed “final offer” votes, sending a clear message to employers across Ontario’s social services sector that low-wage proposals will not be accepted. Members of CUPE Local 2345 at Windsor Community Living and CUPE Local 181 at Community Living Brant both…
As we mark World Water Day (March 22) this year, we find ourselves in the early days of a fight to protect the safety and security of Ontario’s public water. In our province, we enjoy some of safest drinking water in the world, because our systems are publicly owned, publicly operated, and publicly accountable. Water…
