Paramedics call for standardized mental health benefits as working conditions deteriorate through the pandemic

COVID-19, Governmental, Health and Safety, Paramedics

TORONTO, ON – The union representing most Ontario paramedics is calling on the provincial government to address mental health of emergency medical services staff amidst gruelling working conditions through the pandemic. “Paramedics and dispatchers have struggled with heavy workloads for years. But the sharp increase in call volumes and lengthier offload delays at hospitals during…

Details
Image shows a healthcare worker's head and neck. Their eyes are closed, they're wearing a medical mask, and they're wearing scrubs.

Front-line unions reiterate safety demands as Ontario set to reopen

COVID-19 media stories, CUPE Ontario in the Media

CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn said Ontario was last among provinces in per-capita health-care funding before the pandemic, which has exacerbated longstanding issues. He also took issue with the government’s use of the word “absenteeism” when discussing health-care and education worker shortages. “Workers aren’t absent. They’re sick,” he said. “It’s the Ford Conservatives who are absent.” Click…

Details
Image shows healtchare worker sitting on the floor of a narrow hallway with white and neon yellow paint, looking exhausted, and gazing up towards the middle of the doorfram they're reclining against.

Ontario workers are demanding at least 10 paid sick days from employers

COVID-19 media stories, CUPE Ontario in the Media

In the wake of the Omicron crisis, the Ford government needs to provide workers with 10 employer-paid sick days in Ontario, according to a group of more than 30 labour organizations. In April, the province implemented the Ontario COVID-19 Worker Income Benefit, which required employers to give their staff three paid sick days for infectious…

Details

What is the government’s plan for schools without education workers during COVID?

COVID-19, Education, Governmental, Health and Safety, School Boards, Social Services

TORONTO, ON – Education workers are demanding that the Ford government come up with a plan that ensures custodians, education assistants (EAs), school secretaries and others are able to stay on the job once schools reopen next week, says the union that represents 55,000 education workers in Ontario. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)…

Details

Waterloo emergency child care staff shortages largely preventable, reports CUPE

Child Care, COVID-19, Governmental, Municipal

WATERLOO, ON – Waterloo Regional Council’s short-sighted decision to close five children’s centres, that provided care to more than 250 families in the region and employed more than 50 child care and early learning workers, may leave some families and frontline workers without access to emergency child care as the Omicron surge proliferates the child…

Details

A holiday union – Events staff at the University of Western Ontario join CUPE

Solidarity, University

London, ON — Events staff employed by the University Students’ Council of the University of Western Ontario voted yesterday to join the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). “The pandemic has created unprecedented instability for university workers, and these workers are looking for some stability and job security. With this vote they immediately win new…

Details

Giving beyond the hospital walls, St. Joe’s/CUPE hospital workers donate $14,000 to Hamilton community groups

COVID-19, Health Care, Solidarity

Hamilton, ON — Showing that their giving extends beyond the hospital walls and their challenging pandemic work, registered practical nurses, personal support workers, trades, and clerical, among others at Hamilton’s St. Joseph Health Care Centre are donating $14,000 to local community groups and charities this holiday season. It is the third consecutive year that CUPE…

Details