Conservative neglect and policy choices are increasing repetitive strain injuries in Ontario

As CUPE Ontario and the Injured Workers Committee mark International Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Awareness Day, we remember that workers across the province are paying a physical as well as a financial and mental price for the underfunding of our public services. Deliberate and chronic underfunding of public services by the Conservative government of Ontario,…

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Conservative funding announcement just political theatre, say university workers

TORONTO – The Ontario Conservative government’s post-secondary funding announcement is political theatre and nothing more, say representatives of CUPE Ontario university workers. ”The announced funding is less than what the Conservatives have already cut from university budgets, and will not change Ontario’s last place in per-student funding compared to every other province in Canada,” said…

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Developmental service workers indicate they will not accept being stuck on shift with overwhelming strike vote

Essex, ON – There was a moment last year when Ricki Tofflemire thought she’d have to quit being a personal support worker, a position she worked towards for years. The single mother of two was working part time at Community Living Essex County (CLEC) but clocking 50 hours from Thursday to Saturday. She didn’t have…

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Workers and parents push back against closure to keep Francophone child care centre open

TORONTO – Just weeks after a Toronto child care operator announced the planned closure of a centre, workers and parents are celebrating the reversal that will keep much needed Francophone child care spots open. This victory comes after a coordinated pushback campaign by workers and families to highlight the deep need for Francophone child care…

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Service workers at University of Toronto vote in support of strike action

TORONTO, ON – A thousand workers at the University of Toronto, including maintenance workers, caretakers, groundskeepers, veterinary technologists, casual workers, student residence and foodservice staff, and others voted 93% to strike if their employer does not take action to address the rising cost of living and provide a living wage. “The cost of rent keeps…

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A “textbook example” of terrorism: CUPE Ontario statement on the sentencing of the killer of the Afzaal family

CUPE Ontario welcomed yesterday’s decision that ruled the murders of the Afzaal family members to be an act of terrorism. Five members of the family were targeted and four were killed in a brutal act of hate carried out on June 6, 2021, in London, Ontario. The decision sends the unmistakable message that white supremacy,…

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Repeal of Bill 124, restoration of stolen wages, and apology to public sector workers must be priorities for Ford PCs

TORONTO – CUPE Ontario is demanding that the Ford Conservatives start the spring legislative session by repealing Bill 124 and ensuring their March provincial budget contains funding for a remedy to restore millions of dollars in wages lost by public sector workers when Bill 124 was in effect. The union is also echoing the call…

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Rallying at the Perley gates: health care staff demand better working and living conditions at residential care facility

84 per cent of CUPE 870 workers say they are not staffed well enough to provide good quality care OTTAWA – Health care workers represented by CUPE 870 rallied outside the Perley and Rideau Veteran’s Health Centre today, demanding their employer improve compensation and working conditions to enable better care for residents. The union represents…

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“CUPE will not let striking workers be intimidated and criminalized”: CUPE challenges Black River-Matheson trespassing notice

Black River-Matheson, ON – Following last week’s trespassing notice against striking Black River-Matheson municipal workers, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is challenging the effort to criminalize workers, according to the union. “These courageous CUPE Local 1490 members are engaged in a legal strike and they’re making a legitimate call for better wages for…

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