HAMILTON, ON – With a flurry of new COVID-19 outbreaks in Hamilton hospitals, long-term care, and retirement homes this weekend – bringing the total to 36 outbreaks locally – today area hospital union leaders urged the province to include the region as a vaccination priority area. All residents, health care workers and essential caregivers at…
DetailsLaura Walton, president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) released the following statement in response to the Ontario government extending virtual learning: “The last-minute announcement to extend virtual learning betrays lack of planning by the government, which has yet to formulate a safe back-to-school plan despite being nearly a year into the…
DetailsJanuary 6, 2021 There are few words to express the deep pain and sorrow we feel today. We have lost another brave frontline hero on December 29, 2020 as a result of complications related to COVID-19. Shihab Shams was a direct support professional and member of both CUPE Local 2191 and CUPE Local 4400 who…
DetailsTORONTO, ON – Ontario’s legislature needs to return to Queen’s Park immediately, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario. “I know I’m not the only one glued to the news about the crisis south of the border, but it can’t be an excuse to ignore the unimaginable one that’s continuing to unfold in…
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TORONTO, ON – Calling the Ontario PC government’s effort to ramp up long-term care reforms like a care standard and increased staffing “lethargic and inadequate”, today the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) joined advocates urging military intervention to curb COVID-19 wave two infection outbreaks in care homes. “We are tragically losing the battle to…
DetailsIt’s been a year like no other. We’ve lost more than 1.5 million people worldwide to COVID-19, and over 4,000 people in Ontario alone. We’re seeing an average of 2,000 new cases every single day in the province, putting an incredible strain on our health care system. So many people in our communities have lost their…
DetailsTORONTO, ON – A long-awaited plan for staffing in long-term care released today by the Ontario government squarely recognizes that front-line care staff are a vital “pillar” to improve resident well-being, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario. “These are long overdue improvements. While we do not have the full details, what was…
DetailsKENORA, ON – Members of CUPE Local 191 have overwhelmingly rejected the City of Kenora’s attempt to force a “final offer” on them through an Ontario Labour Relations Board-supervised vote. Over 80% of members rejected this offer, with 97% of members voting. In addition to the aggressive attempt to divide members with a supervised vote,…
DetailsTORONTO, ON – In what can only be described as wilful omission – Revera’s carefully constructed new report – glaringly overlooks how their own for-profit model of ownership contributed to the sad and in some cases deadly outcomes for hundreds of long-term residents in the COVID-19 pandemic. “This report underlines the lack of distance between…
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