Health care workers protest declining working conditions and patient care at Oshawa hospital amid provincial funding cuts

Health Care, Solidarity

Oshawa, ON – Demoralized, exhausted and frustrated, health care workers protested outside Lakeridge hospital in Oshawa today in response to chaotic working conditions amid provincial funding restraint. Pam Parks, a registered practical nurse and president of CUPE 6364, which represents about 3,500 workers at three Lakeridge Health sites, said that the hospital has eliminated more…

Union blasts virtual registration at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton urgent care centre

Health Care, Solidarity

Hamilton, ON – The virtual registration pilot at St. Joseph’s urgent care centre is a mistake as it will discriminatorily impact vulnerable groups of people without fixing the core issue, lengthening wait-times, according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees. Last week, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton announced that patients will be able to self-register for…

Millions for ads and a private jet as deficit-strapped hospitals slash hundreds of staff, harming patient care

Health Care, Solidarity

TORONTO – The Ford government must fund hospitals at their real costs to protect patient care from deteriorating, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees. “The government is choking hospitals of funding and forcing deep staff cuts. Its self-aggrandizing advertising campaign would have covered the deficit at the Ottawa Hospital. The private jet for the…

CUPE Ontario’s HCWCC Members Hold Round Table on the State of Long-Term Care at Queen’s Park

Health Care, Solidarity

Toronto – CUPE Ontario’s Health Care Workers Coordinating Committee (HCWCC) held a round table discussion with MPPs at Queen’s Park today. The discussions focused on the challenges facing long-term care and retirement home workers in Ontario. The Covid-19 pandemic shone a light on Ontario’s long-term care and retirement home sector in a way that nothing else was able to before. The clear pitfalls of understaffing, lack of…

Toronto Zoo Workers Reach Tentative Agreement

Solidarity

TORONTO – After nearly three months of collective bargaining, members of CUPE 1600 at the Toronto Zoo have reached a tentative agreement. “We’re pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that reflects the needs of our entire membership, including both permanent and seasonal workers,” said Lynda Bongelli, president of CUPE 1600. “Our bargaining committee worked…

CUPE members ratify a milestone agreement with the Region of Niagara’s Long-Term Care facilities

Municipal, Solidarity

St. Catherines, ON. – Workers at Niagara Region’s Municipally run long term care facilities are celebrating tonight after ratifying a milestone collective agreement this evening. The workers, represented by CUPE 1263, were able to win significant improvements to paramedical benefits, vacation allotments, and pay for their members. Unlike in years past, where negotiations were referred to interest arbitration, the Region and CUPE 1263 freely negotiated these improvements.…