CUPE Ontario

Yesterday, the Finance Minister announced to Ontarians that the Ford government spent the entire $13.3-billion of contingency funds. That was just political spin, said Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario. The FAO report says unequivocally that the 2020 Budget plan still includes unusually large contingency funds which remain unused. These are their words. But they reflect what we know: this government continues to purposefully mislead the people of Ontario. Read more: bit.ly/3rPCO9b

Join us on Tuesday, February 16 at 6:30 pm for CUPE Connects Webisode 8: Fighting Anti-Black Racism in the Workplace. Register here: bit.ly/2MURcOs We are pleased to welcome three special guests: ... Yolanda McLean is CUPE Ontario’s 2nd Vice-President, Equity Vice-President for CUPE 4400 (representing 13,000 Toronto Education Workers), and President of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) Canada. Dr. Jill Andrew is the MPP for Toronto-St. Paul's and the first Queer and Black person to sit in the Ontario Legislature, and reportedly any legislature across Canada. She is also the Women's Issues, and Heritage and Culture critic for the Official Opposition. She is also a founding member of the Ontario NDP Black Caucus, a first of its kind in Ontario's history. Aubrey Gonsalves is the President of CUPE Local 2316, representing bargaining unit workers at the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. Aubrey received his B.A and B.S.W from York University and began work at the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, as a Family Service Worker. Aubrey is also one of three elected representative for the Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario Social Service Workers’ Coordinating Committee, addressing, raising and resolving the issues, concerns and challenges faced by Children’s Aid workers and unions across the province.

Next Tuesday, February 16, the Ontario Legislative Assembly is resuming. CUPE Ontario will be joining Fight for $15 & Fairness to show Premier Ford that the whole province expects him to do his job by legislating paid sick days for all of us. A car caravan will circle Queen’s Park and we will make as much noise as we can to make sure they hear us loudly and inside and out. RSVP now: cupe.on.ca/carcaravanforpaidsickdays/

The CUPE Ontario Indigenous Council invites you to participate in the #MooseHideCampaign to end violence against Indigenous women & girls. Join the virtual day of action tomorrow. Click below to learn more.

Long-term care is in crisis. For-profit care home operators have gotten richer while allowing their patients and workers to suffer. It’s time to #ReimagineCare and protect our loved ones. #MakeReveraPublic

It’s been a hard year, but it’s our collective resolve that helped get us through it. Onwards to 2021.

Join us tonight at 6:30 pm for CUPE Connects Webisode 6: From Land Acknowledgements to Land BackSupporting Indigenous Communities. Read the panelist's biographies, pose your questions, and register: www.cupe.on.ca/cupeconnects ... We are pleased to welcome special guest panelist Joanne Webb. Joanne is a retired CUPE member and community activist from Hamilton. Joanne was involved with CUPE from 1985 until her retirement in 2016, serving in various roles with CUPE Ontario, including as the Aboriginal Representative on the Ontario Executive Board. Joanne was an active member of CUPE Local 4800, Local 794, and Local 7800, holding various positions within the local. Joanne was active in the Hamilton and District CUPE Council and the Hamilton and District Labour Council. Joanne was the Aboriginal Vice President at the Ontario Federation of Labour. #CUPEConnects #LandBack

"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."

Ontarians experiencing homelessness are facing their own unique challenges during COVID-19. Living in shelters or on the streets provides limited opportunities to physically distance and access washrooms and hand hygiene. Like and share if you think the Ford government needs to take action to address homelessness in Ontario.

Join us this Tuesday, November 24 at 6:30 pm for CUPE Connects Webisode 6: From Land Acknowledgements to Land BackSupporting Indigenous Communities. Read the panelist's biographies, pose your questions, and register: www.cupe.on.ca/cupeconnects ... We are pleased to welcome special guest panelist Daniel Stevens Alternate VP for the OFL FNMI Circle, Citizen of Nipissing First Nation of Anishinabek descent, and Member of the OSSTF. #CUPEConnects #LandBack

Debate on Bill 13 took place this evening, with MPPs from all parties voicing support and signalling their intent to vote in favour of the Time to Care Act. The vote was deferred and will take place tomorrow after Question Period. Stay tuned for more information! #TimeToCare

"The CUPE Local 5257 members at Blaisdale Montessori School are dedicated, loyal, and highly-skilled Montessori teachers and support staff who deserve to be treated with respect, says Sara Lorne of CUPE Local 5257. Blaisdale’s offer is an insult to the loyal members who work at this private-school that has been a successful business for more than 50 years."

CUPE Ontario Pink Triangle Committee Chair Susan Gapka spoke with Breakfast Television Toronto today on the 21st annual Trans Day of Remembrance. #Proud #TransgenderDayOfRemembrance

Watch MPPs debate Bill 13the #TimeToCare Actat Second Reading.

Join us on Tuesday, October 20 at 6:30 pm for CUPE Connects Webisode 5: Reimagining the FutureA Just Recovery for All. Read the panelist's biographies, pose your questions, and register: www.cupe.on.ca/cupeconnects ... On the front lines across the province, workers continue to risk their lives to keep people safe, and to keep services running for the good of the public. COVID-19 isn’t the only pandemic we’re fighting. From our workplaces, to our homes, workers are under attack. In a time when we need to invest in our public services, we are facing austerity measures from the Ford government and an agenda of privatization that will leave young workers further and further behind. But the path to recovery does not have to be this way. We know that in order for there to be economic recovery we need to centre our most marginalized communities. We need to eliminate the discriminatory student minimum wage and ensure all workers are making a living wage. We need paid sick days for all to keep workers and our communities safe from the spread of disease. We need a fully funded education system from kindergarten to post-secondary education. We need more accessible housing to protect our vulnerable populations who are already at some of the highest risk of contracting COVID-19. We need environmental justice, immigration status for all and equity for Black, Indigenous, racialized people, women and 2SLGBTQ+ people.

"The system of penny-pinching, of austerity, of low taxes on corporations and the wealthiest has failed us. We need robust funding and we need to use it to shore up urgently needed public services now. We need this government to change course today." Fred Hahn

There is a vacancy on the CUPE Ontario Pink Triangle Committee! Nominate yourself or someone you know: bit.ly/2GSZe7F

Join us for a Twitter and Facebook storm today urging all MPPs to vote in favour of Bill 13, the Time to Care Act. Click here to join: cupe.on.ca/bill13storm Bill 13 needs to pass Second Reading in order to continue the steps to become law. Once passed, it would legislate a minimum standard of four hours of daily hands-on care for every long-term care resident in Ontario.

CUPE Ontario’s 280,000 members join Muslim communities and allies in expressing outrage over the news that a Toronto mosque was the victim of despicable threats of violence. Read more: bit.ly/33Yf7lN

"These front-line heroes were forced to take this drastic action by a government which seeks to privatize their jobs as a cost-savings measure during a global health crisis. This is the same government that continues to fail to address the chronic staffing shortage in their workplaces, and the very real health care needs of Albertans. On behalf of the 280,000 members of CUPE Ontario, we wholeheartedly support this important and militant action."

"My fear is that we haven't learned any lessons" - Candace Rennick, Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE Ontario Take action by signing and sharing these petitions: https://cupe.on.ca/campaigns/time-to-care-long-term-care/... https://cupe.on.ca/nohalfmeasures/

CUPE Ontario, SEIU Health Care and Unifor hold a joint press conference to urge the Ontario legislature to pass Bill 13the #TimeToCare Actat second reading this week. Send your MPP a message: www.timetocareontario.ca

The Ontario NDP's plan to deliver a public and non-profit home care and long-term care system is the comprehensive vision Ontarians need, says CUPE Ontario. Read more: bit.ly/3lpfg7y

Solidarity with CUPE 4600 member Cihan Erdal, who is spending his birthday in solitary confinement in on day 28 of his unjust detention. CUPE calls on our g...overnment to demand his immediate release and guarantee his safe return to . Happy Birthday Cihan! #FreeCihanErdal

CUPE Ontario, SEIU Healthcare, and Unifor Canada collectively urged the Ford government to pass the #TimeToCare Act at Second Reading this week in an open letter featured in the Toronto Sun. Read the ad: bit.ly/2HDfolg Send your MPP a message: www.timetocareontario.ca ... // Candace Rennick , Fred Hahn, Sharleen Stewart, Jerry Dias #onpoli #onthealth #TimetoCare #onlab

We’re in an unimaginable crisis and this government isn’t recognizing that penny-pinching is only making it worse, said Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario. #SpendingSavesLives. Instead of recognizing that, the Ford Conservatives are sitting on $9.3 billion of unspent collective resources money we could use to fund measures that will keep us safe. Read more: cupe.on.ca/spendingsaveslives

"We condemn the violence and the state surveillance Land Defenders are being subjected to at 1492 Land Back Lane. There must be a moratorium on further development of the Haldimand Tract until proper proceedings have taken place. And the Canadian state must come to the table to engage in negotiations, while considering the principle of justice. There are also charges remaining against Land Defenders and supporters, many of whom are Indigenous. Those who are able can support t...heir legal fund here: https://ca.gofundme.com/f/legal-fund-1492-land-back-lane Reconciliation can only occur when there is justice. The ongoing colonial violence against Indigenous people must be opposed through collective action. Union members, who understand the principles of equity, are natural allies in struggles like these. It’s time to send a strong message of support for Land Defenders at 1492 Land Back Lane."

Two-thirds of all approved COVID-19-related claims to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board in Ottawa came from workers at nursing homes and residential care facilities - but the numbers should be much higher. ""Many of these [long-term care] workers are part-time. They'll just go home. They won't file claims and they'll wait out ... the virus. There is no access to WSIB if you have to go home and self-isolate if you've been exposed but don't necessarily have a confirmed case," said Candace Rennick, secretary treasurer of CUPE Ontario. Rennick said one reason some of those employees may not be applying for compensation is they don't know they have the right to if they became ill on the job."

On October 28th, the Time to Care Act, Bill 13, will go to 2nd reading in the Ontario Legislature. The bill would ensure a minimum daily average of 4 hours of hands on care per resident in every long-term care home in the province. Send your MPP a messagevote for #TimeToCare: www.cupe.on.ca/timetocare

"CUPE Ontario is stepping up its call for better pay for personal support workers, increased staffing in long-term care homes and an end to the privatization of long-term care beds. Union president Fred Hahn also says it’s past time for approval of an NDP private member’s bill that would legislate a minimum standard of hands-on care for each long-term care resident in the province of at least four hours each day. We’ve been advocating for 15 years, by God, it should be the l...aw of the land, said Hahn." Sign and share our petition: https://cupe.on.ca/campaigns/time-to-care-long-term-care/

It’s deeply concerning that, rather than extending more robust supports for all Ontarians, the Ford Conservatives are pushing legislation that only does more harm with the misleadingly titled Better for People, Smarter for Business Act bill. CUPE Ontario’s Pink Triangle Committee and CUPE Ontario’s University Workers Coordinating Committing, representing more than 30,000 members, are outraged by this plan and call on allies to reject it. A section of the bill includes turn...ing the Canada Christian College a private for-profit institution with a history of homophobia, transphobia, and Islamophobia into a university with the power to grant bachelor of science and arts degrees. Read more: bit.ly/37Ik9F8 #onpoli #onted // CUPE Ontario Pink Triangle Committee Ontario University Workers Coordinating Committee

Today I joined the Ontario Health Coalition’s province-wide Day of Action on Long-Term Care, with Taras Natyshak - Essex and Tracey Ramsey. I spoke about the i...mportance of the Time to Care Act, which would ensure a daily standard of four hours of direct care per resident, and my More Than a Visitor Act, which deals with the importance of access to essential caregivers. These are critical issues facing the long term care sector, along with taking the profits out of LTC, addressing chronic understaffing, and fixing the poor working and living conditions. See more

Ontario’s Long-Term COVID-19 Commission released an interim report today, calling on the government to implement a minimum daily care standard of four hours of hands-on care per resident. CUPE, SEIU and Unifor are calling on the government to take action on Wednesday evening during the second reading of Bill 13, the Time to Care Act. The legislation calls for an average minimum of four hours of daily care per resident.

CUPE members and allies socially-distant rallied at Queen's Park and in cities across the province on the Day of Action for Long-Term Care to fight for better working and living conditions and a legislated minimum care standard of 4 hours per resident per day. Send your MPP a message: tell them to support Bill 13, the Time to Care Act, at second reading: www.cupe.on.ca/timetocare

Registration is open for Injured Workers and Health & Safety Virtual Conference 2020, running November 18 and 19. Read the agenda and register here: bit.ly/35mJC4p

Inspiring to be in Hamilton as part of events in the Day of Action for Long Term Care called by the Ontario Health Coalition - we need more workers who are ful...l time and paid fairly (both BC and Quebec have done this), workers need Time To Care - a 4hr min hands on per day - and Bill 13 in the ON Leg is coming up soon, and we need to End Profit in LTC - no corporation should make money on our parents and grandparents See more

The CUPE Young Ontario Workers are launching Our Future Reimagined: a campaign to demand a just recovery for all. To kick off the campaign, they're asking you to submit a video that is 30 seconds to 1 minute long about what your future reimagined is. Send us the video at [email protected]. Read more: cupe.on.ca/our-future-reimagined-a-just-recovery-for-all/... #OurFutureReimagined #JustRecoveryForAll

Today is the World Day for Decent Work. Update your profile picture to demonstrate your solidarity with workers around the world, especially frontline heroes delivering the services we depend on during this pandemic. While you're at it, send the Ford Conservatives a message: half measures just won’t cut it for frontline heroes anymore:... www.cupe.on.ca/nohalfmeasures See more

On October 28th, the Time to Care Act, Bill 13, will go to 2nd reading in the Ontario legislature. The bill will ensure a minimum daily average of 4 hours of hands on care per resident in every long-term care home in the province. Tell your MPP to support it: www.cupe.on.ca/timetocare