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…

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

COVID-19, Health Care, Social Services

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

COVID-19, Health Care, Solidarity

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

COVID-19, Health Care

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…

“Because care can’t wait”, CUPE encourages Ontario LTC minister to make good on four-hour care standard in new Act, funding for new RPN, PSW hiring

Health Care, Time To Care

TORONTO, ON – There is cautious optimism from Ontario’s largest health care union – the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario – following a provincial government announcement today that promises money for long-term care homes to hire additional staff now and a four-hour care standard in a new revamped Long-Term Care Homes Act. “While…

Contract negotiations for 70,000 Ontario hospital workers break down over hospitals’ refusal to seriously address health and safety issues, including pandemic protection and violence

COVID-19, Health Care

TORONTO, ON – “We are deeply disappointed that Ontario’s hospitals will not seriously address the pressing health and safety needs of registered practical nurses, personal support workers, clerical, cleaners and other front-line hospital staff,” say the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and SEIU Healthcare in announcing the break down of contract negotiations for 70,000…

The Ford Conservatives could have spent $2.6-billion to save lives: CUPE Ontario

COVID-19, Education, Governmental, Health Care, Municipal, Safe Schools, School Boards, Social Services, University

TORONTO, ON – In the middle of a fourth wave, the Ford Conservatives are still senselessly sitting on billions of dollars that could go towards saving lives and ensuring a recovery for all, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario. “The single clearest lesson of the last 18 months is that public services…

CUPE files legal challenge to OMERS’ punitive treatment of paramedics

Fix OMERS--updates, Health Care, Paramedics, Solidarity

TORONTO, ON – Today, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) filed a legal challenge with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) about OMERS’ treatment of paramedic members accessing earlier retirement options. “Paramedics have been demanding that OMERS allow them fair access to earlier retirement options for over a decade,” said Fred Hahn,…

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

COVID-19, Health Care, Solidarity, Strike Support

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…