“No one will be singled out or scapegoated”: CUPE Ontario’s statement for the International Day for Disabled Persons

On December 3, CUPE Ontario’s 280,000 members mark the International Day for Disabled Persons with the recognition of the moment we’re in. With cases still ticking upwards in Ontario, and variants of concern rapidly spreading around the world, it’s more critical than ever that we acknowledge that it’s people with disabilities who are among the…

Niagara EMS must act now to protect patients who call 911, say CUPE paramedics

NIAGARA REGION, ON – The Niagara Region Emergency Medical Service (EMS) is putting people’s safety at risk by not providing paramedics and dispatchers the resources they need to serve patients, says Local 911 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 911). The union is calling on Niagara EMS and the regional municipality to act…

Ontarians not fooled by Ford Conservatives’ economic pre-election gimmicks: CUPE Ontario

TORONTO, ON – Today’s Fall Economic Statement (FES) is a disturbing mix of accounting tricks and political spin designed to support the Ford Conservatives’ electoral ambitions rather than truly support Ontario’s workers and economy, still struggling through the pandemic. “Anyone who thinks Doug Ford has had a sudden change of heart and will stand up…

New Ontario LTC Act misses opportunity for reforms needed for better resident care, stable workforce and no more profit in care

TORONTO, ON – With this new Ontario Long Term Care Act, the Ontario government has missed an opportunity to enhance resident care by stabilizing the workforce with a guaranteed increase to full-time jobs and universal, across the board wage increases, says Candace Rennick, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario, secretary-treasurer. “Equally egregious is not…

Surge in violence against staff “creates toxic work environment,” deepening Ontario’s hospital staffing crisis

TORONTO, ON – Increasing violence directed at hospital staff is among factors driving the worsening staffing shortage in Ontario’s health sector, say two unions representing nearly 70,000 hospital workers province-wide. According to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and SEIU Healthcare, the gravity of the situation was underscored this week with the Ministry of…

Premier urged to look at real threats to Ontario hospital viability and staffing crisis; high workloads, chronic understaffing, high infection risks and violence

TORONTO, ON – Responding to a recent letter from Premier Doug Ford asking for input, two of Ontario’s largest health care unions are urging him to move beyond the excuse of vaccination mandates and acknowledge the real reasons why there is a growing and critical shortage of nurses, personal support workers and other hospital staff…

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…