President's Reports

April 2014 President's Report (Bridgepoint Health)

10 April 2014

Dear Local 79 Sisters and Brothers at Bridgepoint Hospital:

The Clinical Nutritionists celebrated Nutrition month in March, and on March 27th they had a nutrition month display table near the cafeteria – the theme was “Simply Cook and Enjoy”. 75 people participated in the theme-related quiz and the winners received gifts donated by Local 79.

Service Units members will have an opportunity to ratify the bargaining proposals on Monday, April 14, 2014. Your Bargaining Committee has been busy drafting the proposals and I’d like to thank them for all the work they’ve done in preparation for the next round of bargaining.

At the end of last month, Local 79 sent more than a dozen members to the Municipal Political Action Conference. Organized by the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, the event focused on the importance of electing City Councillors in October who will support, and advocate for, strong public services, healthy communities, and good jobs. Local 79, along with other Unions, can have a significant impact on the composition of the next Toronto City Council.

A Provincial Election is still a distinct possibility in the upcoming months and I hope that all Local 79 members will help to elect a government in Ontario that supports public services, respects bargaining rights, and gives people a clear path out of poverty. We’ve heard from our members, especially those working in Toronto Employment and Social Services, that the Torontonians they take care of on a daily basis are increasingly concerned about insufficient welfare rates and low minimum wages. Local 79 will be putting together information for our members, if and when an election is called, so please check our website regularly.

As part of Local 79’s on-going engagement with our city’s communities, we sponsored the recent 2014 City Ball Hockey Tournament. While delivering some remarks, I was pleased to see so many young people from the diverse communities across Toronto enjoying the event. Local 79’s involvement with this exciting sports initiative helped provide a fun and safe environment for Toronto’s children to further develop their athletic and life skills.

April 28th is the National Day of Mourning, when we pause and remember all workers who have been injured, made sick, or killed on the job. The 2014 service will be held on Monday, April 28th at 12 noon at Larry Sefton Park, Bay and Hagerman Street. (Behind Toronto City Hall)

Canada’s National Nursing Week for 2014 is May 12th – 18th. This year’s theme, Nursing: A Leading Force for Change, celebrates the role of nurses at the forefront of effecting change in the quality of health care. Please nominate individuals for our Annual Nursing Peer Recognition Award. The selection criteria are based on the nominee(s) who best fit with Local 79’s Mission and Equality Statements. (see the Local 79 website for more details)

We work hard at Local 79 to get our members special offers and savings from different businesses in Toronto. Please visit the Members’ Portal from the Local 79 website to find out the latest information on companies that want Local 79 members as customers, and are offering us discounts as an incentive.

The month of May provides several occasions to celebrate the rich diversity of Local 79 and the City of Toronto. May is Asian Heritage Month, Jewish Heritage Month in Ontario, and May 17th is the International Day Against Homophobia. (see the Local 79 website)

Applications for the 2014 Alex Gregory Memorial Scholarship will be accepted for students who are in their final year of secondary school in Ontario, and are registered in a post-secondary institution this fall. Five scholarships for $500 each will be awarded to children of current or retired members. Please contact (416) 977-1629 extension 250 for more information.

Tired of the winter cold? Be sure to mark these events in your calendar and don’t miss the summer fun! WorldPride 2014 Parade on Sunday, June 29th, Local 79’s second “Old-Fashioned” Picnic on Saturday, June 21st at High Park, the Local 79 Annual Picnic on July 23rd and 24th at Wild Water Kingdom, Scotiabank Caribbean Festival on Saturday, August 2nd, Labour Day on Monday, September 1st. Keep a look out for more details in the next President’s Report and on our website.

In Solidarity,

Tim Maguire
President