Students and Workers concerned about unsafe campus reopening plans

Post-secondary students and workers in colleges and universities have faced many challenges throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. While the announcement that post-secondary institutions will be opening in the fall is exciting news, safety needs to be the top priority. Sadly, with less than a week before the fall term begins, guidelines have finally been introduced but…

Education workers point out potential dangers in Hamilton-Wentworth DSB’s school reopening plans

HAMILTON, ON – Leaders from the union that represents custodial and maintenance staff at Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) are sounding the alarm about the loss of enhanced cleaning jobs in schools, saying that the cuts put students and staff at greater risk of catching COVID-19. “Enhanced cleaning measures were crucial to stopping the spread…

University staff fear for their health and safety as Ford government drops basic COVID-19 precautions on campus

TORONTO, ON – Students and workers feel abandoned after an Ontario government memo said universities and colleges will re-open without measures like class capacity limits or improvements to ventilation, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario. “More than 30,000 support and academic workers are now apprehensive about returning to campuses. They are baffled…

“Mid-year results don’t paint the whole picture”: CUPE Ontario says first-ever report should not distract from call for an independent review of OMERS

TORONTO, ON – A first-ever mid-year report by the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) can’t draw attention away from the systemic underperformance of OMERS investment returns, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario. “Just like a single cold day doesn’t mean temperatures aren’t rising, half a year of investment returns tells us…

Frontline Residential and Community Workers in Hamilton call for urgent action to address chronic short staffing, declining workplace morale

HAMILTON, ON – Frontline residential and community outreach workers at Good Shepherd Family Centre, Reaching Home and Women’s Services Hamilton, who are represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 5167, are exhausted from long hours, low pay, and acute workplace stress that has resulted in chronic understaffing, high staff turnover, leading to…

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…

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…

A letter to the Minister of Labour about the Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee

July 8, 2021 Sent Via Email Hon. Monte McNaughton Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development 14th Floor, 900 University Avenue Toronto, ON M7A 1T7 Dear Minister McNaughton, I am writing in response to your announcement that the Ontario Ministry of Labour will undertake an Ontario Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee. The Committee is tasked with…