“Just because we work half the hours, does not mean we are half the worth!”: Laid off Whitby city workers hold creative action to call for equity and wages

COVID-19, Municipal

On Friday, March 13, the Town of Whitby laid off 210 part-time staff, members of CUPE Local 53. Unlike neighbouring municipalities, like Pickering, Clarington, Uxbridge, and Ajax, where city workers were paid for between two and three weeks when layoffs were still considered temporary, Whitby’s part-time workers were left with no compensation. “If the town provided the three-weeks worth of wages, it would give us the opportunity to…

With pandemic here and deadline fast approaching, CUPE 79 urges City of Toronto to ‘get this right’ and conclude negotiations

Municipal, Solidarity

TORONTO – With a global pandemic here and the deadline for labour disruption just around the corner, the leader of Canada’s largest local union today urged the City of Toronto to reach a settlement. “The whole city is watching. The actions we all take in the coming days will be incredibly consequential. We have to…

Durham Region paramedics highlight ambulance shortages and call for real investment in paramedic services

Health Care, Municipal, Solidarity

WHITBY, ON – The union representing paramedics in Durham is calling on regional political leadership to join forces in calling for a greater investment in emergency health services. CUPE Local 1764, which represents about 320 paramedics in Durham Region, recently shared with Durham Region councillors a report that definitively shows the disparity between call volume…

City of Toronto needs to shift focus from contingency planning to negotiating a fair deal with CUPE Local 79

79-strikesupport2020, Municipal

TORONTO, ON – The President of the union representing over 20,000 City of Toronto ‘inside’ workers today urged the City to shift its focus from contingency plans to the place it needs to be – the bargaining table. “The best possible contingency plan is to negotiate a fair contract,” said Dave Mitchell, President of Local…

CUPE Local 79 requests no-board in negotiations with City of Toronto

79-strikesupport2020, Municipal, Strike Support

TORONTO, ON – CUPE Local 79, representing over 22,000 inside workers with the City of Toronto, has requested a no-board report in their negotiations with the City, citing a lack of meaningful discussion on significant outstanding issues. “The City has been quite open about their attempts to seek significant concessions, erode job security and set…