Happy May Day!

Statement on COPE National convention in Winnipeg

 

A number of COPE/SEPB locals in Ontario have called on COPE National to postpone its convention scheduled for this week in Winnipeg. 

The province has declared a state of emergency because of wildfires, and First Nations leaders have called on conferences to be cancelled so that hotel rooms can be provided to the thousands of evacuees, some of whom have been sleeping on cots. 

COPE locals supporting the statement urge the national union to act in a spirit of reconciliation and answer the call of First Nations leadership. 

 

Solidarity_Statement_2025_06_03.pdf

Solidarity_Statement_FR_2025_06_03.pdf

Pride 25 — now more than ever

With equity, diversity and inclusion under attack south of the border and elsewhere, Pride Month 2025 is even more timely and important.

Pride Month speaks not only to freedom for 2SLGBTQ+ communities, but for the right of every person to live their lives fully and authentically, in safety and without fear.

There are events across the province this month and into September. The biggie, as usual, will be Toronto Pride Weekend from June 26 to 29, centred in the Church-Wellesley Village.

Here, thanks to the Ontario Federation of Labour, is a list of events taking place across the province. Chances are, there’s an event taking place near you. See you there!

https://ofl.ca/event/2025-pride-event-schedule/

Workers come together!

New report shows increasing workplace violence in schools

Research by University of Ottawa researchers should be a wakeup call for the Ontario government.

Punching, biting, kicking and throwing things at educational assistants and teachers are increasing at alarming rates.

A key factor is lack of funding that leads to overcrowded classrooms, fewer educational assistants and unequal access to assessments for students.

“These are exactly the conditions that exacerbate workplace violence,” says Dr. Chris Bruckert, Chair of the Department of Criminology, who launched the Violence and Harassment Against Educators Project in 2018.

Evacuating the classroom has become almost a daily occurrence for many education workers. Nearly half the 6,000 support staff and teachers who were interviewed also reported harassment from parents.

This epidemic of violence is bad not only for workers but for students. How long will the Ford government continue to live in denial and financially starve our Ontario education system?

https://www.uottawa.ca/about-us/news-all/distressing-levels-workplace-violence-ontario-schools