Today, April 28, is the National Day of Mourning, when we remember all workers who were killed at work and who have suffered injuries at work.
This special day is observed around the world, sending a message about the importance of strong health and safety laws and workplace inspections.
Today, we mourn the dead, and commit to making every workplace a safe workplace.
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
Today we honour workers and the importance of solidarity — at home and around the world.
May Day has been celebrated since ancient times as the beginning of warmer weather and a period of rebirth in the natural world.
These days, it is a day to honour workers, solidarity and the importance of unions in fighting for workplace rights and equality. In Europe, May Day is similar to what Labour Day is for us in North America.
So today let us celebrate the new season and the importance of working together for rights and equality — here and everywhere.
COPE Ontario joins the calls for Toronto mayor Olivia Chow to buy Canadian for the TTC.
Subway cars on TTC Line 2 are near the end of life, and replacements are urgently needed.
COPE members at Alstom in Thunder Bay are ready to build the 55 new cars needed for the Bloor-Danforth line.
No one has more experience than workers in Thunder Bay, who built the existing Line 1 and 2 cars (not the mention, the new streetcars).
This would be a win-win — for the economy of Thunder Bay, and the TTC riders who deserve to travel on reliable subway cars.
We're counting on you, Olivia!
