Province looking for clear rules on service dogs in schools
Ontario school boards need to have clear, consistent policies when it comes to students’ service dogs — instead of the patchwork that now exists, says Education Minister Lisa Thompson. As part of wide-ranging education legislation that passed first reading last week — the Safe and Supportive Classrooms Act — the government wants to “establish policies and guidelines […]
CUPE welcomes long-awaited pay equity legislation
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) welcomes Canada’s long-awaited first federal pay equity legislation. “This is a great achievement for the women’s movement in Canada and the allies who fought for decades to right this historical wrong,” said CUPE National President Mark Hancock. “There is room for improvement in this legislation, but we give credit to […]
Premier Ford betrays Ontario’s working people and their families
TORONTO, ON (October 23, 2018) – Reducing wages and gutting protections for our provinces lowest paid workers proves Premier Ford is only interested in helping his corporate friends and has no problem hurting working people and their families to do it, says CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn. Hahn’s comments come following today’s announcement that Ford […]
Tory government cancels $100 million school repair fund
Ontario’s new Tory government has cancelled a $100-million fund earmarked for school repairs this year, a cut that comes as a result of Doug Ford’s campaign promise to scrap the province’s cap-and-trade system. School boards were notified on July 3 that the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund would be eliminated and that only work contracted on […]
Time for a true national holiday to honour Indigenous peoples
On June 21, CUPE members across Canada will mark National Aboriginal Day, also known as National Indigenous Peoples Day, an annual opportunity to honour and celebrate the diverse cultures of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. Indigenous peoples will be celebrating in their communities, and graciously sharing their ceremonies, customs and heritage with others across the country. It […]
Preparing for a Doug Ford Conservative Government – a message for CUPE members and staff
Attention all staff, CUPE leaders and activists: The election results on June 7, were not what we wanted and are very concerning for all CUPE members and the public services we provide. With only 40 percent of the vote, Doug Ford and the Conservative Party now have a majority government in Ontario. The race between […]
Premier Designate Ford’s hiring freeze demonstrates a lack of understanding of the scope of government services
Yesterday’s announcement of a unilateral hiring freeze across all government services demonstrates Premier Designate Doug Ford’s lack of understanding of the overall scope of services the Ontario government provides, says CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn. “Ford has not even been sworn in as Premier and he has made this sweeping decision without having had the […]
May is Asian Heritage Month
Asian Heritage Month has been celebrated across Canada since the 1990s and was officially recognized by the federal government in May 2002. Every year at this time, CUPE celebrates the contributions that members of Asian communities have made to Canada. We acknowledge and honour the activism of people of Asian descent in their fight for human rights and […]
CUPE marks World Water Day 2018
Public water and wastewater services are vital to our lives and are fundamental human rights. These services are the foundation of safe and healthy communities. On March 22, CUPE members and our local and international allies recommit to protecting water and wastewater services from privatization and strengthening these services for future generations. CUPE works in […]
Diverse workplaces bring many benefits
New research demonstrates that having a more ethnically diverse workforce isn’t just important for social justice – it’s also good for the economy. The report, published jointly by the Centre for International Governance Innovation and the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, found that a diverse workforce is directly connected to increased productivity and revenues. Diversity Dividend: […]
Women at work: still a long way to go
CUPE’s work for gender justice has a clear goal: not one step back. We push governments at all levels to apply a gender lens to budgets and update policies to recognize the impact of intersecting forms of discrimination. A review of the latest statistics about women and work reminds us that our collective work for […]
CUPE Ontario
- Ford government uses fall economic statement to bring in deep cuts to public services November 15, 2018TORONTO, ON (November 15, 2018) – Tax cuts for the wealthiest and further tax breaks for corporations announced in the Ford government’s economic statement will mean deep cuts for public services, says CUPE Ontario’s Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick. “You can’t reduce taxes for corporations and the wealthy and bring down the deficit without making significant cuts […]Liam Bedard
- Does Vic Fedeli have the courage to face Ontario’s biggest financial challenge? November 15, 2018TORONTO, ON – As Ontario Finance Minister, Vic Fedeli prepares to unveil the fall economic statement, the people of Ontario need to know whether or not he is prepared to deal with the government’s significant revenue problems, says CUPE Ontario’s Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick. “Seniors in long-term care are suffering, sick people are being left on […]Liam Bedard
- Lockout averted for Grey County roads workers November 6, 2018GREY COUNTY, ON – A potential lockout of roads workers in Grey County has been averted, following a day of mediation between Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1530 and the County. A tentative settlement was reached on Monday, November 5th. No details will be released until Local 1530’s membership has had the opportunity […]Vinny Paul
- Lockout looms for Grey County roads workers November 1, 2018GREY COUNTY, ON – Roads workers in Grey County have taken to the airwaves to warn residents that road safety may be at risk if the County chooses to lock them out on November 8th. In a new radio ad airing through the County beginning today, CUPE Local 1530 lets residents know that they are […]Vinny Paul
- With Sudbury hospital at 110 per cent capacity, staff build anti-cuts momentum with rally and community forum October 30, 2018SUDBURY, ON – Committed to stemming a cycle of provincial hospital underfunding they believe risks patient care, frontline staff at Health Sciences North (HSN) are building community opposition to the most recent round of staff and patient cuts at the hospital. Their efforts to form an anti-cuts movement in Sudbury are intensifying with a second […]Liam Bedard
- CUPE Ontario stands with Canada’s Postal Workers October 25, 2018CUPE Ontario’s 260,000 members stand strongly in solidarity with the Canada’s Postal Workers, who are on strike because their employer refuses to deal with crushing workloads, forced overtime and a massive spike in workplace injuries. One in 12 workers experienced a disabling workplace injury last year. Over the past two years their number of disabling […]ddadgari
- Premier Ford betrays Ontario’s working people and their families October 23, 2018TORONTO, ON (October 23, 2018) – Reducing wages and gutting protections for our provinces lowest paid workers proves Premier Ford is only interested in helping his corporate friends and has no problem hurting working people and their families to do it, says CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn. Hahn’s comments come following today’s announcement that Ford […]ddadgari
- Far from ending hallway medicine, Windsor / Essex stands to lose 81 more hospital beds, more than 390 staff under Ford programs October 18, 2018Keep me updated on health care cuts across Ontario! WINDSOR, ON – Hallway medicine, hospital overcrowding and bed crisis will deepen at Windsor’s hospitals under Premier Doug Ford’s public service “efficiency” program, proposed tax cuts and his promise to scrap the cap and trade program that generates billions of dollars in revenue, the Ontario Council […]ddadgari
- “Library workers make libraries great”: Markham and New Tecumseth library workers celebrate Library Week October 18, 2018MARKHAM, ON – Public library workers in Markham and New Tecumseth, members of Local 905 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), and their supporters, are celebrating Ontario Public Library Week with the message that great libraries depend on great workers. “We’re very proud of the relationship we have developed with our patrons in […]ddadgari
- CUPE Ontario joins early childhood educators and child care workers in calling on municipal candidates to be “Champions for Children” October 16, 2018Today (October 16) is Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day in Ontario. Coming just days before the municipal election, educators and their supporters are calling on municipal and school board politicians to join them as “Champions for Children” by committing to three big ideas to build a better child care system […]Deva Nadesan