“A Testament to the Contributions of Front-Line Workers, But There’s Still More to Do”: CUPE Ontario Calls for More Action to Ensure Safety in Step 3

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Entering Step 3 early is a testament to the contributions of front-line workers but the Ford Conservatives are still failing to ensure safety and a recovery for all, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario.

“Front-line workers kept us as safe as possible during this pandemic, with members of CUPE Ontario, among others, doing the important work of vaccinating so many of us so quickly,” said Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario. “We’re at this point, where we’re reopening faster than expected, in no small part because of them. But we owe front-line workers so much more. We can’t truly reopen safely without permanent, employer-paid sick days, a plan for schools, and investments in the public services that save lives and ensure livelihoods.”

CUPE Ontario continues to call for an increase to the minimum wage to $20/hr and to social assistance rates, an end to the wage restraint legislation capping public sector wage and benefit increases at 1% a year, increased investments to municipalities to ensure they continue to deliver services at the local level, a reverse to cuts to post secondary education and a plan to ensure it’s affordable, and improvements to child care.

Additionally, CUPE Ontario says that Ontario must declare anti-Black racism a public health crisis, begin a process to engage in meaningful reconciliation with indigenous communities, and develop a plan to ensure affordable housing.

“A reopening without these measures is incomplete at best, a disproportionate burden on workers at worst,” said Hahn.

“We also need to take profit out of care, develop a plan, and ensure the funding to recruit and retain personal support workers in long-term care,” said Candace Rennick, Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE Ontario. “As good as things are going, there are still variants of concern. There’s always a risk of yet another wave – one that would impact the most vulnerable. It’s time to ensure that workers can provide 4 hours of care for every resident of long-term care homes.”

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