“We must close the gap between our rights and our reality”: CUPE Ontario’s statement on International Human Rights Day

Today, CUPE Ontario joins people around the world in celebrating International Human Rights Day. Seventy-three years ago today, on December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a document that set the foundation for universal basic human rights. From its inception, the UDHR was a…

“Drop the charges and stop the racist violence”: CUPE Ontario’s statement in solidarity with Hamilton’s Black youth housing activists

For about an hour during the afternoon of November 24 at Hamilton’s J.C. Beemer Park, police officers violently attacked allies of its unhoused residents who were encamped there. Two Black youth were punched in the face, another dragged through the grass; officers planted their knees on necks, and employed chokeholds. “Don’t let them say it…

“Because no one should go hungry,” Region of Peel workers (CUPE 966) give back to the community with support for fundraising breakfast

MISSISSAUGA, ON – The COVID-19 pandemic has created income instability and food insecurity for a growing number of Peel residents. With inflation at 4.9% in November, it is getting harder and harder for people in our community to buy grocieries and put food on the table for their families and themselves, says Salil Ayra, the…

“Our union made history today”: Yolanda McClean elected CUPE Ontario’s next Secretary-Treasurer

TORONTO, ON – The Executive Board of Ontario’s largest union, CUPE Ontario, has elected a new Secretary-Treasurer, Yolanda McClean, to represent 280,000 members working in the public sector. “I am honoured to be elected Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE Ontario,” said McClean. “With the Ford Conservatives, I know the work ahead of us can look daunting, but…

Ontario Representatives Elected to the CUPE National Executive Board

CUPE Ontario congratulates the four members elected to represent our region on CUPE National’s Executive Board during its Convention today. CUPE Ontario’s President Fred Hahn was re-elected as the General Vice-President for Ontario at the National Union. CUPE Ontario’s First Vice-President, and President of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, Michael Hurley was re-elected Regional…

“Wealth Tax Now”: CUPE Ontario calls on Province to institute changes to tax system

TORONTO, ON – Ontario must immediately address growing income and wealth inequality by radically restructuring the tax system to tax wealth and high incomes, said the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario during a press conference this morning. “CUPE Ontario’s 280,000 members are saying that, in the face of growing income and wealth inequality,…

While the Ford government delays and distracts, child care advocates call for system overhaul; Ontario must make child care a right

TORONTO, ON – A recent announcement by the Ford government of targeted after-school recreation programs is a further distraction from the province’s failure to sign a child care deal, reports CUPE. Advocates urge Premier Ford to focus on making child care a right in the province by implementing $10-a-day child care and creating a workforce…