Ottawa hospital staff subject to higher rates of physical violence, assaults with weapons compared to other parts of Ontario; new CUPE poll finds

COVID-19, Health and Safety, Health Care

OTTAWA, ON – Pandemic tensions and unprecedented hospital staffing shortages are fueling already high rates of violence – including sexual harassment and assaults – against Ontario’s mostly female hospital workforce- including here at Ottawa hospitals, a new poll of 2300 front-line registered practical nurses (RPNs), PSWs, porters, cleaners, and other front-line hospital staff, reveals. 550…

Ontario hospital staff subjected to a disturbing pandemic surge in physical and sexual violence; new CUPE poll finds

COVID-19, Health and Safety, Health Care

TORONTO, ON – Pandemic tensions and unprecedented hospital staffing shortages are fueling already high rates of violence – including sexual harassment and assaults – against Ontario’s mostly female hospital workforce, a new poll of 2300 front-line registered practical nurses (RPNs), PSWs, porters, cleaners, and other front-line hospital staff, reveals. Polling conducted by Oracle Research on…

CUPE Ontario mourns the loss of two members

Health and Safety

Our union, 280,000 members strong and united, is now two members fewer. Our deepest sympathies are with the families, friends, co-workers, and neighbours of the members of Local 4705 in Sudbury and of Local 5167 in Hamilton who tragically lost their lives. Today, though this may be little consolation, CUPE Ontario is with you in…

Paramedics call for standardized mental health benefits as working conditions deteriorate through the pandemic

COVID-19, Governmental, Health and Safety, Paramedics

TORONTO, ON – The union representing most Ontario paramedics is calling on the provincial government to address mental health of emergency medical services staff amidst gruelling working conditions through the pandemic. “Paramedics and dispatchers have struggled with heavy workloads for years. But the sharp increase in call volumes and lengthier offload delays at hospitals during…

What is the government’s plan for schools without education workers during COVID?

COVID-19, Education, Governmental, Health and Safety, School Boards, Social Services

TORONTO, ON – Education workers are demanding that the Ford government come up with a plan that ensures custodians, education assistants (EAs), school secretaries and others are able to stay on the job once schools reopen next week, says the union that represents 55,000 education workers in Ontario. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)…

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

COVID-19, Health and Safety, Health Care, 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…

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

COVID-19, Governmental, Health and Safety, University

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…

Statement from CUPE Ontario on the lifting of COVID-19 testing requirements for fully vaccinated staff, visitors and caregivers in LTC

COVID-19, Governmental, Health and Safety, Social Services, Time To Care

In a sector ravaged by COVID-19 for more than a year,  today’s provincial announcement that fully immunized long-term care staff and visitors will no longer have to be tested before entering LTC homes, is good news and a sign that we are finally getting the edge on the virus. We want to thank the thousands…

“A testament to the contributions of front-line workers, but there’s still more to do”: CUPE Ontario calls for more action to ensure safety in Step 3

COVID-19, Education, Governmental, Health and Safety, Human RIghts, Municipal, Paramedics, Racial Justice, Safe Schools, School Boards, Social Services, University

TORONTO, ON – Entering Step 3 early is a testament to the contributions of front-line workers but the Ford Conservatives are still failing to ensure safety and a recovery for all, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario. “Front-line workers kept us as safe as possible during this pandemic, with members of CUPE…

Health and safety workers at IHSA target systemic sexism in collective agreement negotiations, trigger countdown to possible job action

Health and Safety

Toronto, ON — Ontario’s construction, infrastructure, and transportation industries may come to a grinding halt by the mid of June, reports the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU)/ Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1750, whose employer rejected several proposals to address workplace barriers that prevent women from advancement, skill development, and participation in the…