-

As Federal anti-scab legislation comes into force, Ontario workers are left out to dry

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The long awaited federal anti-scab legislation comes into force today, making it illegal for federally regulated employers to employ replacement workers, also known as scabs during a strike or lock out. While this milestone is a great step in the right direction for workers in Canada, it is cold comfort for the 25 striking members of CUPE 5525 at Villa Columbo in Toronto’s West End.

Faced with poverty wages and poor working conditions, these workers took to the picket lines after two years of collective bargaining fell apart four weeks ago. Their employer, Villa Columbo, has completely disengaged from bargaining since the strike began after employing scab labour to try and replace the striking workers.

The replacement workers come in late and lack the deep relationships and care that the residents of Villa Columbo have developed with their usual caretakers. Despite the reduction in quality of care, the employer is content to leave these workers on the picket line without a fair deal. Villa Charities boasts about their staff training at Villa Columbo in their 2023 annual report yet leave that talent and investment, unrecognized in their choice to hire scabs.

Striking workers continue to walk the picket line outside Villa Columbo Toronto. Villa Charities claim to value “Compassion, Integrity, Transparency, Collaboration, Excellence, Respect and Diversity” on their website. So long as scabs fill the role of these brave workers at Villa Columbo, those will remain just words.

WC:pp/cope491

Contacts

For more information, please contact:
Bill Chalupiak
CUPE Communications Representative
wchalupiak@cupe.ca
416-707-1401

Industry:

CUPE

Release Versions
English

Contacts

For more information, please contact:
Bill Chalupiak
CUPE Communications Representative
wchalupiak@cupe.ca
416-707-1401

More News From CUPE

Chéticamp Long Term Care Workers Vote to Strike

CHÉTICAMP, NS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Workers from Foyer Père Fiset Long Term Care Home, represented by CUPE 2031, voted 93% in favour of a strike mandate, calling for improved wages and recruitment and retention. “Lowest in Atlantic Canada. Those words alone should be enough to motivate the government to meet us at the bargaining table with a fair offer. Our government should want us, should want Nova Scotians, to be leading the way not lagging behind,” said CUPE 2031 President Trevor Poirier. “The...

“We haven’t seen this level of slashing since the Harris years:” new report warns of longer wait-times and declining quality of care as funding cuts squeeze Ontario hospitals

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new report warns that the turn to health care cutbacks in Ontario harken to the period of Mike Harris, as hundreds of job cuts ravage hospitals across the province, prolonging wait-times and delaying patient care. The government recently directed hospitals to plan for two per cent annual funding increases until 2027-28, far less than the six per cent average in recent years. The Ford government’s funding plan will lead to more than 10,000 job losses and reduction of...

CUPE Ontario urges government to change course ahead of 2026 budget

NIAGARA FALLS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CUPE Ontario president Fred Hahn called on the Ford government to reverse course on its budget priorities Thursday, warning that years of underfunding public services have deepened inequality and harmed workers and communities across the province. Hahn spoke at a press conference and later before the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs as part of the 2026 pre-budget consultations. With more than 300,000 members, CUPE Ontario is the largest union in...
Back to Newsroom