Dear Local 79 Sisters and Brothers:

First of all, I hope you are having a great summer with family and friends! Summer 2012 is more than halfway over and I just wanted to give you an update on all the activity that has been keeping Local 79 very busy this summer.

Community Engagement: We have already participated in a large number of community events including: the Cancer Relay for Life, the Pride Flag Raising at City Hall, the Pride Parade, the Dragon Boat Races, the Festival of South Asia, our 70th annual Summer Picnic, Youth Day, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, and Taste of the Danforth. Our misting tent has been a huge hit, and Toronto residents love the water bottles that we have been giving out along with information about the many services that our members provide.

Join us at ‘Celebrate Yonge’ (Aug. 17-Sept. 16) as we continue to celebrate the summer with our fellow Torontonians!

We attend these events because it is so important that Local 79 continue to build strong allegiances with communities and organizations across Toronto. We have heard from community organizations and Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) that they are really appreciative of our sponsorship and involvement in their events and celebrations.

This year, CUPE will be leading the Labour Day Parade on September 3rd. All Local 79 members are asked to meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Local 79 Office at 34 St. Patrick Street. For more information, call our event line: 416-977-1629 ext. 508. Please bring your Local 79 membership card to ensure free entrance to the CNE! (See events page).

This Fall will also be busy for Local 79. The City is conducting a number of Service Reviews which will be focused on Child Care; Hostels; Parks, Forestry and Recreation; Museums; and Long Term Care and Services. We expect these reviews to recommend cuts and contracting out, a theme that will continue as the Ford administration begins the City’s 2013 budget process. Local 79 is already reaching out to communities as we prepare for these challenges, and we are looking for active support from members.

Local 79 has been working to prepare for the upcoming arbitration process for the Long Term Care Homes and Services Part Time Collective Agreement. We will provide details as soon as they become available.

Bridgepoint Bargaining: Local 79 and the Hospital exchanged proposals in May 2011. The Union filed for conciliation in the Fall of 2011. The Union and the Hospital have met on 11 occasions, up to and including July 26, 2012. Your Local 79 bargaining committee made best efforts to negotiate a Collective Agreement with the Hospital, but we were unfortunately unable to reach agreement on key monetary issues. Local 79 filed for a ‘no board’ report on July 27, 2012. Once issued, the parties can proceed to arbitration. Local 79 will provide you with the hearing date and other updates regarding bargaining on our website’s Members’ Portal.

New Bridgepoint Hospital: Members at Bridgepoint attended a series of information sessions in order to be able to ask questions on the information package they received regarding locations and shifts at the new facility. Local 79 has posted transition updates in our website’s Members’ Portal, so make sure to visit it often at cupelocal79.org to stay informed.

TCHC Bargaining: Local 79 will be preparing for bargaining with TCHC, and will be sending out a survey to members as we develop proposals.

In addition to all of the important issues that we continue to monitor and take action on locally, our Union will be paying close attention to Provincial issues such as Labour Law Reform, and Federal Issues such as the negative impact of changes to Employment Insurance, and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Local 79 is working in solidarity with Labour Council and other Unions.

In Solidarity,

Tim Maguire
President