We come together today to remember and mourn the senseless loss of six Muslim men, killed on Jan 29, 2017, while in prayer, at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec (CCIQ). Last year’s deadly shooting at the Quebec City Mosque is a violent example of Islamophobia in Canada. These men were fathers, friends, husbands, sons,…
The CUPE family has faced some tragic losses over the past few weeks. Five of our members have died in tragic accidents that took them from us far, far too soon. All of CUPE Ontario mourns the heart-breaking loss of: James Baragar, a 39-year-old helicopter pilot from Orillia and member of CUPE 1000 Janelle MacPherson,…
Hamilton, Ont. – CUPE 5167, representing workers in the Hamilton region, is issuing the following statement in response to reports of a local Tim Hortons franchise in Dundas rolling back worker’s benefits and paid breaks, following the introduction of the province’s new minimum wage laws. “As one of Hamilton’s largest unions, representing 4,300 workers in…
TORONTO, ON – The revelation that the public sector pension plan, OMERS has been using tax havens to avoid their tax obligation has come as a shock to CUPE Ontario that represents the largest group of the pension plans membership. Tax avoidance is no way to fund a pension plan, says Fred Hahn, the union’s…
Public-private partnerships (P3s) are once again drawing the criticism of Ontario’s auditor general, in her 2017 annual report. In 2014, Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk’s wide-ranging report exposed major problems with Infrastructure Ontario’s entire P3 privatization program, known in the province as Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP). Her 2016 and 2017 reports continue to highlight…
Sisters & Brothers, Comrades & Friends, As 2017 draws to a close, let’s reflect on the significant victories that we’ve accomplished together this year. Thanks to the work of CUPE Ontario members, our partners in labour and our community allies, we were successful in getting the Ontario government to pass Bill 148 and legislate real…
The beginning of December marks many points to commemorate human rights and equality struggles around the world and December 1st begins the month with World AIDS Day. This important international day is a time to recognize the continued resilience and resistance of activists around HIV / AIDS globally and the amazing advances made in prevention…
TORONTO, ON – In the absence of government leadership CUPE Ontario has rented a large winterized trailer to ensure the volunteers working to save lives at the Moss Park overdose prevention site can continue to do their important work. “Our government needs to do more than track and talk about the opioid crisis. People are…
After more than five weeks of doing nothing to help resolve the strike at Ontario’s colleges, the Liberals now have the audacity to try to blame the NDP for preventing students from getting back to class. “I’ve never heard such an outrageous bunch of hooey in my life,” says CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn. “The…
Monday, November 20th, we mark the Transgender Day of Remembrance by celebrating how far we’ve come in the fight for trans rights. While transgender people still face significant discrimination, we are also witnessing unprecedented signs of acceptance. Just weeks ago, the small catholic town of Très-Saint-Redempteur in Quebec elected Julie Lemieux as Canada’s first openly…
