This ongoing pandemic is deepening the mental health crisis. Action is needed now to provide support to people in need. This World Mental Health Day we are raising the alarm and calling for governments to immediately invest in mental health supports ― Larry Brown, NUPGE President
Ottawa (09 Oct. 2020) ― In recognition of World Mental Health Day, which takes place on October 10, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is renewing its call for action on mental health.
While families with children in public schools have to hope for the best, wealthy families who are sending their children to private schools will be able to avoid the effect of the Progressive Conservatives decision to cut the number of classes.
“A legislated raise limited to 1% comes to less than $8 a week, far less than the $60 a day the government is spinning through its propaganda machine doubling as our education minister. The government should abandon this cruel and ham-fisted legislation and get serious about bargaining right now." — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President
While mandatory e-learning may not be good for high school students, it may end up being very good for companies selling e-learning services.
"We stand in solidarity with Ontario teachers and education workers today and every day. They deserve to be shown respect at the bargaining table." — Larry Brown, NUPGE President
“We stood with the students because it was the right thing to do" — OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas
Most of the political parties have a drastically different approach to post-secondary education. In this election, Canadians will be able to choose which promise is worth supporting for the future of the country.
“Like most front-line public service workers, the last thing our members want to do is go on strike or endure a lockout. What we want is simple: a fair deal that puts students ahead of irresponsible slashing of services." ― Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President
NBU/NUPGE encourages instructors to reach out to discuss joining the NBU/NUPGE so they will have someone standing up for them and defending their rights in the workplace.
Unless the Minister completely rejects the idea that the Social Finance Fund will be used to "bring private funding, incentives and discipline into social services," past experience shows we need to assume that it will be used to subsidize the privatization of social services.
Kennedy said he's concerned that the government will use the legislated wage cuts as an excuse to further cut college funding.
It is not a coincidence that supporters of ISAs include people with a history of supporting cuts to public services to pay for tax cuts for large corporations and the wealthy.
Thomas notes there is a lot of stress in higher education and many students with mental health concerns depend on the counselling.
These alternatives would bring down the deficit and leave most Ontarians better off than the cuts the Ford government is proposing.
“I commend all those who raised their voice to force the Minister of Education to reinstate funding to the school." — Bob Bymoen, SGEU President
“It’s absolutely shameful, and OPSEU/NUPGE is going to make sure it doesn’t happen to contract faculty at George Brown, or any other college.” — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President
Show your support for accessible education for all students by emailing your MPP!
“Once again, the government is making sweeping changes without any regard for the people who use these services, or the people who deliver them.” — Michelle Gawronsky, MGEU President
When money gives the wealthiest 1% that kind of power, the rest of us are second-class citizens. Stopping the wealthy from buying their way to the front of the line means reducing income inequality. And a crucial step to reducing income inequality is ensuring large corporations and the wealthy pay their share of taxes.