This month, Premier Ford’s Progressive Conservative government made major moves to court workers, seeking to change labour laws with the Working for Workers Act and pledging to raise the minumum wage. But, do Ontario unions actually like what they see, and will this help Ontario’s working class in substantial ways? Also, are we witnessing a…
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” famously opens Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. The line also perfectly describes the growing income and wealth inequality in Ontario, a tale of two provinces that compels us to finally institute a wealth tax. In the tale of one of the…
The Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario said the legislation missed the chance to stabilize precarious working conditions for staff and expressed doubt that the government could meet its direct care targets. “This new act is a serious disappointment that falls way short of where Ontario should be in improving care and staffing levels in…
Nursing homes breaking the rules would see maximum fines doubled and the worst performers could face temporary takeovers under long-awaited legislation proposed in the wake of a pandemic that saw almost 4,000 vulnerable residents die. The bill, called the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, follows angry and anguished calls from families of loved ones in long-term…
“It’s like the antithesis of what working for workers would be,” says Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario. He goes on to add “it doesn’t say there’s going to be a law; it doesn’t say it’ll be equally applied for all workers; it doesn’t say that it’s actually going to be mandated!” … Hahn says…
As nursing homes prepare for the end of pandemic emergency orders, operators want a permanent role for new, low-paid workers. But advocates like CUPE Ontario’s Candace Rennick question the use of inexperienced staff with vulnerable residents, saying it is a “very sad policy choice.” Called “resident support assistants,” the entry-level job was approved by a…
The line item, the FAO notes, which covers “funding to support the implementation of public health protocols in schools” received $702 million in 2020-21. This year, the province is budgeting $569 million in 2021-22,. That’s a reduction of about $133 million. At the same time, according to the report, local school boards have spent $391…
“There was no real sense of urgency or understanding or acceptance of how critical the situation actually was. And in the case of Madonna, you know, that situation proved to be fatal — not just for workers, but for … several residents as well,” said Candace Rennick, a former PSW and an executive with CUPE…
“We have always taken the position that every member and worker that can be vaccinated should be vaccinated. But we also believe we cannot give up on these workers who showed up every day during the pandemic and worked their hearts out,” said Candace Rennick, Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE Ontario. Click here to watch the full…
University academic and support staff in Ontario have been put in danger by Ford’s removal of COVID protection rules. Comments by the president of CUPE Ontario, Fred Hahn. Click here to read the full article and listen to the podcast segment on Rabble.ca.
