The recent killing of Mahsa Amini by Iran’s “Guidance Patrol”, also known as the ‘morality police’, for “improper” wearing of the hijab has led to another important uprising in the country. Led by women demanding freedom from patriarchy and from all forms of systemic oppression and the regime that upholds it, bravely risking their lives…
CUPE Ontario, representing over 280,000 workers in Canada’s largest province, is adding its voice to the call for the government of Sri Lanka to end its repression of students, teachers, and trade unionists in the country. On September 25, the Sri Lankan police violently dispersed hundreds of demonstrators a day after severely curtailing protest rights…
Dozens of children, and many more adults, killed. Far more injured. Hundreds of homes damaged, with many people left without theirs. CUPE Ontario and its International Solidarity Committee strongly condemn the Israeli authorities for their ongoing attack on the Palestinian people in Gaza. We see through and we openly question the pretext of self-defence to…
One hundred and eighty-seven years ago today, on 1 August 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act took effect marking the legal end slavery across the British Empire. The Act emancipated over 800,000 enslaved Africans across the Caribbean and South America. As educator and historian Natasha L. Henry notes, many enslaved Africans in British North America received…
Asian and South Asian Heritage Month has been celebrated in May since the 1990s and was formally recognized by the Canadian government in 2002. The occasion is an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of people of Asian descent while recognizing the struggles and unique histories of these communities. Although Canada likes to present itself as…
Following the largest protest in human history, demonstrations have continued across India for nearly 50 days, with solidarity actions around the world. CUPE Ontario is proud to build on the solidarity statements of our National Union and to pledge our active support for the hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers impacted by devastating changes to agriculture laws. Passed by…
It is with great sorrow that we have learned about the passing of Mary-Jo (MJ) Nadeau. Mary-Jo was a member of CUPE 3903 at York University and then a staff representative at CUPE 1281. As a CUPE member, she was an uncompromising force against anti-worker employers, and a compassionate and caring comrade to her fellow…
The proposed legislation, Bill 168, introduced by conservative MPPs Robin Martin (Eglinton—Lawrence) and Will Bouma (Brantford—Brand) with the misleading title “Combating Anti-Semitism Act,” is an assault on the freedom of speech of Ontarians that must be defeated. Many concerns have been raised regarding Israel’s human rights record of offences against the Palestinian people, and it…
CUPE 4600 member, Cihan Erdal was arrested on September 25th by Turkish police on unspecified charges related to social unrest in 2014. Erdal is one of 82 people issued arrest warrants in relation to alleged incitement of protests in 2014 which were violently repressed by Turkish police. These arrests are part of a broader effort…
We, CUPE Ontario, join the Migrant Rights Network in calling for full and permanent immigration status for all, without exclusions. COVID-19 has exposed deep inequalities in our society. The fault lines are gendered and racialized: the worst impacts are being felt by women and in Indigenous, Black and Brown communities. Those most impacted have received the least support. Meanwhile, large corporations…
