“This must be a time of reflection not celebration”: Indigenous Council and CUPE Ontario to spend July 1 reflecting and recommitting to fighting ongoing colonialism

Aboriginal Council, Solidarity

“This year, Canada Day should be nothing more than a day of reflection. I will not celebrate the birth of a nation that destroyed our children.” The words of Sol Mamakwa, NDP MPP for Kiiwetinoong and a member of Kingfisher First Nation, are ones people living in what we call Canada must hear and must contend with. He continues by asking:…

“No encampment clearings”: CUPE Ontario’s statement of solidarity with unhoused Trinity Bellwoods residents

COVID-19, Governmental, Municipal, Solidarity

CUPE Ontario condemns the City of Toronto’s decision to clear encampments at Trinity Bellwoods Park where unhoused Torontonians have been living. The use of over 100 police officers and dozens of private security would be a completely unjustified display of forced removal at any time. Toronto’s one of the most expensive cities in the world and far too many of our neighbours can’t afford…

“A Day of Action for the Day of Mourning”: It’s time to redouble our efforts to protect workers

COVID-19, Health and Safety, Health Care, Injured Workers, Municipal, School Boards, Social Services, Solidarity, University

Every year, on April 28, we pause to mourn and recognize workers who have been injured and killed on the job. And while we remember we also understand the fundamental importance of the political work of fighting for the living by redoubling our efforts to demand real safety for workers and the communities that rely…

“Solidarity for striking Port of Montreal workers”: CUPE Ontario sends message opposing bad faith bargaining and back-to-work legislation

Solidarity

Since 2018, members of CUPE Local 375, representing 1,100 longshore workers at the Port of Montreal, have been without a contract. Continued bad faith bargaining on the part of the employer, the Maritime Employers Association (MEA), culminated in them announcing schedule changes that would see members working more per shift without any additional pay, and…

For Earth Day, time to recognize a Climate Change Emergency

Campaigns, Solidarity

This Earth Day, we invite Local executives to sign on to the CUPE Climate Change Emergency Declaration. While the planet reels in response to the health emergency from COVID-19, we cannot lose sight of the environmental crisis. There is no vaccine for climate change. Global temperatures continue to go up, and we continue to experience an increasingly destabilized climate. CUPE recognizes…

Bridlewood Trails workers join CUPE

Health Care, Solidarity

KANATA, ON – Workers at Bridlewood Trails Retirement Community in Kanata voted almost unanimously today to join The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). “The pandemic has been very challenging for workers in retirement and long-term care residences. Thanks to COVID, everyone knows care workers need to be treated better and given more respect,” said…