"Everybody wins when workers are paid a decent and fair wage. Everybody wins when a local like this bargains language that will prevent their jobs from being contracted out or privatized." — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President
The hope for our best future lies in this broad solidarity. We are the ones who know how to get things done when we work together. We are the ones who have learned from the past, and are working for a better future for everyone. We are proud of our accomplishments — those that benefit our members and those that benefit everyone else, too. And we have much to be proud of. — Larry Brown, NUPGE President
"Workers are being assaulted while treating patients without risk assessments being done, with inadequate security protection. One could make the case that the employer is complicit in these attacks on hospital staff." — Paul Finch, BCGEU Treasurer
"After 16 years of cuts and wage restraint leading the sector into crisis, this agreement with a government that wants to put people first provides a foundation to build on." — Stephanie Smith, BCGEU President
Local 449 is the third new Local in the MGEU/NUPGE in the last 3 months, a trend that doesn’t surprise Gawronsky.
“Before anybody else gets hurt, they [the doctors] must take a hard look at their actions and then get back to the table with a decent offer that shows basic respect.” — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President
"We do not need our government to be bullied into a bad trade deal." — Larry Brown, NUPGE President
The alleged incidents range in seriousness from failing to comply with regulations around ID'ing patrons to failing to identify what would normally be flagged as suspicious behaviour possibly related to money-laundering.
It’s so common for politicians who privatized public services when in office to be hired by companies that profit from privatization after they retire that it rarely gets questioned.
“As movements who have a long history of interdependence, the LGBTQ+ and union movements are intertwined in our projects of obtaining equity and justice." — Zivi Richard, President of River of Pride
"Every one of our union's 155,000 members is proud of these women and men for fighting for decent wages and working conditions." — Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, OPSEU First Vice-President / Treasurer
"The quality and enthusiasm of leaders coming to our School never ceases to amaze me. They are dynamic and dedicated members looking to strengthen our union locally, provincially and nationally. These are the future leaders of the labour movement." — Larry Brown, NUPGE President
OPSEU/NUPGE also filed a complaint on Friday with the College of Physicians and Surgeons against the owners of the Family Health Organization and some of their senior administrators over harassment and some abusive language directed at the striking workers.
NSGEU/NUPGE has been supporting Feed Nova Scotia for over a decade.
“For several years, our public health system has been impacted by a critical shortage of sonographers, particularly in northern and remote communities. These new training spaces are an important step forward.” — Val Avery, HSABC President
PEIUPSE/NUPGE members fighting forest fires in Ontario.
Last month saw the second conviction related to allegations that SNC-Lavalin executives paid $22.5 million in bribes to get the contract for a P3 privatization scheme.
“If you talk to someone on the frontline, they’ll tell you that they see the impacts of burnout every day — they’ve either experienced it themselves or they see it in their co-workers.” — Michelle Gawronsky, MGEU President
Whether it’s excessive workloads for frontline staff or inadequate services for people with addiction or mental health issues, many of the problems discussed in the report can be traced back to the failure of federal and provincial government to adequately fund social programs.
“Whether it’s their neighbours or people thousands of kilometres away, wildland firefighters recognize they have a responsibility to do what they can to help, even when it means risking their own health and safety,” — Larry Brown, NUPGE President
The challenge now is to make sure that enough of that 91% of Canadians speak out so that the federal government recognizes that it has no choice but to bring in a national pharmacare program that is healthy, fair and affordable.
“The idea that municipalities can opt out is a bad joke. Those cities and towns that opt out will be wide open to gang activity - it makes no sense.” — OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas
"After 16 years of staff cuts and wage restraint, there was a lot of pent-up demand for positive change from our membership," — Stephanie Smith, BCGEU President
“Sexual harassment and harassment of any kind cannot be tolerated in government workplaces, so we’re hopeful that this initiative will mean that workers can come forward with concerns, and feel safe and free from reprisal when reporting harassment.” — Michelle Gawronsky, MGEU President
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has joined with other members of the Climate Change Action Network to call on the Ontario government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.
The award came after five days of mediation-arbitration which took place last week and concludes a process that began in October, 2016.
Attempt by Republicans to make Missouri a right to work state was defeated by a two to one margin. Even many Republican voters weren’t prepared to support restricting workers’ rights.
Tax evasion is not a “victimless crime.” The victims are everyone struggling when they can’t get the public services they need – whether it’s people experiencing hallway medicine, a student who can’t afford rapidly rising tuition fees or drivers worried about their safety after snow plowing services have been privatized.
The collapse of Sears Canada is a classic example of how too many of the laws governing corporations protect the wealthy, while ignoring the rights of workers and the long-term health of the economy.
A mere 87 families in Canada have the same wealth as Canada's 12 million lowest earners combined. On average they have 4,448 times more wealth than the average family.
Upon returning to the bargaining table, the government was unwilling to negotiate. It was their unwillingness that brought about the need for a strike vote.