“A provincial government that doesn’t care much about children, workers, or the truth” – CUPE responds to Star report of Ford government’s penny-pinching strategies for schools and COVID-19 –

School Boards

TORONTO, ON – CUPE leaders expressed shock but not surprise at the findings in the Toronto Star’s investigation into the ‘watered down’ strategies that the Ontario government used to keep COVID-19 out of schools. Laura Walton, president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU), gave the following comment: Thanks to the Star’s investigation,…

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“People with disabilities must be exempted from pool closures now”: CUPE Ontario

Workers with Disabilities

TORONTO, ON – Provincial restrictions must immediately allow exemptions for people with disabilities wishing to use indoor municipal facilities for physical therapy or rehabilitation, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario. “More than ever, people with disabilities have been treated like an after thought,” said Peter Stapper, Chair of CUPE Ontario’s Workers with…

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Toronto respite workers join CUPE

Social Services

TORONTO, ON – Housing and respite workers at the St. Felix Centre in Toronto are the newest members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). Today the Ontario Labour Relations Board certified that the 155 workers are officially CUPE members, following a near-unanimous vote that ended January 12. The St. Felix Centre provides supports…

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Ford Government must protect frontline workers and stop letting employers off the hook for workplace COVID-19 outbreaks: paramedic union

COVID-19, Paramedics

WATERLOO, ON – Region of Waterloo paramedics are being denied WSIB claims after contracting COVID-19, a move that the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) believes is being enabled by the Ford Government’s unwillingness to hold employers accountable for workplace outbreaks. “Having fallen ill with COVID-19 from working was scary enough,” said one Region of…

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Province must provide direction, support for students and staff working in schools during COVID shutdown

COVID-19, School Boards

TORONTO, ON – Even in the current emergency shutdown in Ontario, thousands of students continue to go to school and continue to be supported by education workers. To protect everyone’s health and safety, the union that represents 55,000 education workers is calling on the provincial government to implement some straightforward measures that will lower the…

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COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Enquiries

COVID-19, Health Care, Social Services

Last night, CUPE Ontario held a Town Hall Call on the COVID-19 vaccine. Guest Panelist and infectious disease expert Dr. Tara Moriarty from the University of Toronto noted the following: 1)      If you’re a Canadian who would like to ATTEND our nightly Zoom sessions about COVID-19 vaccine safety, please sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdrp0-GkyZS1Oe4cu4T7F6t1xdumCr9HmWo5dUwAYaRaw0AWw/viewform 2)      If you’d like to request a special…

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