“We are approaching a major crisis of care:” Kenora District paramedics call for provincial and municipal investments in emergency services and community health

COVID-19, Paramedics, Solidarity

Kenora, ON – CUPE Local 5911 paramedics serving the District of Kenora are advocating for investments from the provincial and municipal governments to improve ambulance coverage for patients calling 911 and working conditions for paramedics. In addition to more direct funding for the paramedic service, the union is also calling for investments in community health…

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New report finds 1400 seniors who died from COVID-19 would not have if Ontario had a fully public long-term care system: Time to make election a referendum on private health care

COVID-19, Governmental, Health Care

TORONTO, ON – More than 1400 seniors died from COVID-19 than would have if Ontario had a fully public long-term care system, according to a new report released today. That is a key lesson for voters in the June 2 election, since the Doug Ford PC’s have said they will deal with the post-pandemic surgical…

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“We deserve better:” CUPE Ontario Statement on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

Pink Triangle

May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. Since 2005, May 17 has been dedicated to the fight against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia, marking the day in 1990 when the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. For decades, CUPE and the broader labour movement have been at the forefront in…

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Doug Ford would face massive labour unrest in the hospitals if staff didn’t put patients’ interests ahead of their own as negotiations for 70,000 on the front-lines derail over PC Bill 124 wage cut, lack of protections

COVID-19, Governmental, Health Care

TORONTO, ON – Hospital staff are angered and stunned by how the Ontario government and the hospital employers are treating them following two years of pandemic sacrifice as provincial bargaining broke down May 14, says the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU) the hospital division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in Ontario.…

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Image shows one hand holding a cane and another being held by someone.

Looming privatization of home care will hurt staff, clients: advocates

COVID-19 media stories, CUPE Ontario in the Media

Privatization of home care is a hot-button topic as Ontario moves toward the June 2nd election. Premier Doug Ford’s government has bandied the idea about wanting to bring back a competitive bidding model that started the “systematic privatization” of home care in 1996 under Mike Harris’ leadership. Under the privatization model, for-profit Home and Community…

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Image shows Unionized health care workers in Sudbury took part in a lunch hour rally near Health Sciences North Tuesday to call for the repeal of Bill 124 which limits wages and bargaining rights for public sector workers in Ontario.

Sudbury hospital and health care workers rally and call for an end to Bill 124

COVID-19 media stories, CUPE Ontario in the Media

Unionized health care workers in Sudbury shouted and hollered their disapproval of Doug Ford’s government and Bill 124 at a public rally near Health Sciences North on Tuesday. The event was organized by OCHU (Ontario Council of Hospital Unions) and CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) and was attended by several Health Sciences North employees…

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