Posts published in February 2026

The community showed up in support of the workers at Sienna Living’s Case Manor in Bobcaygeon, Ontario after it was announced that job cuts and cuts to hours of work were being implemented in the spring. The employer is cutting 1300 hours per month from the care hours that should be going to support the residents in the home. Members of CUPE 3204 are PSWs, maintenance, recreation, and kitchen staff that ensure the quality of life for residents of the home.

“Sienna is cutting hours, and cutting jobs in an attempt to make up for the cuts Doug Ford’s Conservative government has made to investing in public healthcare,” said Yolanda McLean, Secretary Treasurer of CUPE Ontario. “Let’s be real here – when the government cuts support for seniors, cuts healthcare spending, the people he is hurting are the seniors who are trying to live their lives in dignity, and the workers who work to provide the care and support those seniors need.”

“The community has shown up in a big way,” said Joan Kelly, president of CUPE Local 3204. “Everyone here understands the importance of providing quality care for seniors, and they know that these cuts will hurt the residents in the long run.”

In response to the rally, and the hundreds of emails sent to Sienna Living’s management team, management has resorted to verbal threats and intimidation tactics. They have hung the privacy policy and social media policies in prominent places where workers come to sign in for their shifts and have been overheard threatening to fire anyone who speaks with the media.

The union has already filed a series of grievances against the cuts to hours and layoffs and is prepared to use every legal lever to protect our members from any reprisals threatened by management.

The union representing the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) distribution centre employees, the Syndicat des travailleuses et travailleurs de la SAQ (STTSAQ-CUPE 3535), denounces the SAQ’s decision to entrust the American multinational Uber Eats with its home delivery service.

“By choosing Uber Eats, the SAQ is favouring the American economy at the expense of Quebec’s,” STTSAQ president Danick Soucy said. “Our distribution centres are now open on weekends to offer a modernized service. Delivering alcohol is a social responsibility, and we can do it. We are already delivering to SAQ branches and restaurants.”

The union proposes a delivery model that provides decent wages and returns profits to the public coffers that fund public services for Quebecers.

The union points out that, since alcohol is not like other products, the decision also creates a major public health concern. The sale and delivery of alcohol come with clear and regulated responsibilities, including checking age requirements and assessing buyers’ level of intoxication.

“The priority should be what is most profitable for Quebec and what best ensures Quebecers’ safety. That is the SAQ’s responsibility,” Soucy concluded.

CUPE 3535 is calling on the Minister of Finance Éric Girard, who is responsible for the SAQ, to intervene immediately to cancel the contract with Uber Eats and demand a 100% Quebec delivery model operated by the SAQ and STTSAQ workers.

In less than 36 hours, more than 1,500 people have emailed Minister France-Élaine Duranceau, asking her to stop Bill 7, which would do away with the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (lNSPQ).

“As our independent public health authority, the INSPQ plays an essential and very specific role in our healthcare system,” said Sonia Bureau, interim president of CUPE’s Conseil provincial des affaires sociales (CPAS). “Abolishing it would rechannel resources to the network’s curative care at the expense of preventive health measures. Let’s not forget that Quebec is a world-renowned expert in public health.”

Even though closing the INSPQ is a major event, employees were not consulted and, even worse, learned the news through the media. We must denounce the current administration’s practices, which don’t even apply basic decency.

Bureau pointed out that “the CAQ has not reduced wait times in the ER. It has failed to solve the issue of specialists’ pay. And it has not increased Quebecers’ access to family practitioners. Does this government really believe it has the skills to completely reform the INSPQ?”

Demand that the INSPQ’s expertise be maintained. Send a letter to Minister Duranceau to save public health in Quebec.

CUPE Ontario condemns the firing of two educators and the suspension of six others at Bowmore Road Junior and Senior Public School, which will affect more than 200 students.

“Firing and suspending education workers for raising legitimate concerns is outrageous, and frankly illegal” said Fred Hahn, president of CUPE Ontario. “While there are grievances that will, we trust, see this ridiculous decision reversed, there can be no doubt that this is a clear, and devious attempt to intimidate workers ahead of school board negotiations. Enough – reinstate these educators and stop playing politics with young people in our schools.”

All workers in the public, Catholic, French and English school systems across the province begin negotiations for renewed collective agreements later this year including CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) representing 60,000 support staff, education workers who are key to student success.

The TDSB was placed under provincial supervision in June 2025.  Since then, the supervisor has made significant changes, including firing the director of education, and lifting the cap on class sizes for grades 4 to 8, that was put in place by trustees for 2025-2026 school year.

“The systematic underfunding of our public school system by the Ford Conservatives is resulting in school violence rising, all education workers being stretched to the breaking point, and young people having fewer and fewer supports at schools across Ontario, said Yolanda McLean, CUPE Ontario’s Secretary-Treasurer.  “Our ETT siblings should be praised, not punished for speaking out. What’s happening at Bowmore is part of a wider crisis spurred on by Ford’s Trumpian attempts to control Ontario’s public services. Schools, OMERS, privatization of water, private health care, the list goes on.”

CUPE Ontario stands with Elementary Teachers of Toronto members and the Bowmore school community.