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34 St Patrick St,
Toronto, ON M5T 1V1

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416 977-9546

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Today we marched for International Women’s Day under the powerful theme “Rise and Resist: Uniting for a New World.” The rally reflected the strength and diversity of the feminist movement, bringing together women, workers, migrants, racialized communities, queer and trans activists, and allies. International Women’s Day has always been rooted in struggle, and today’s march continued that tradition by demanding dignity, safety, and justice for women and gender-diverse people in our communities and beyond.

Speakers and marchers reminded us that feminism shouldn’t stop at borders. Our struggle is tied to the fight for liberation everywhere — for a world where women and communities are free from occupation, displacement, and war, and where people can live, organize, and build their futures without fear of violence or bombs overhead.

Local 79 stood in solidarity with students rallying at Queen’s Park today to oppose changes to OSAP that shift student aid from grants to loans.  
Thousands gathered calling on Premier Doug Ford and Minister Nolan Quinn to stop their attack on post-secondary education.

Organizers of the rally from the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario reminded us that education should be a pathway out of precarity — not another bill students are forced to carry. Students from Universities across Ontario talked about the financial stress they’re experiencing a time when the cost of living is already overwhelming.

Accessible, affordable education strengthens our entire province.
We stand with Ontario’s students!

This past Saturday, we came together for an afternoon of reflection, learning, and celebration. The program featured Land and Ancestral Acknowledgements, the Black National Anthem and poetry by Nicky Lawrence, welcome remarks from Brigett Coleman, an engaging Q&A with LTtheMonk (also our MC), and a powerful fireside chat with Robyn Maynard and Brianna Plummer.

We closed with a vibrant steelpan performance by Thadel Wilson, and time to connect over refreshments. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event so meaningful!

Today we marched for International Women’s Day under the powerful theme “Rise and Resist: Uniting for a New World.” The rally reflected the strength and diversity of the feminist movement, bringing together women, workers, migrants, racialized communities, queer and trans activists, and allies. International Women’s Day has always been rooted in struggle, and today’s march continued that tradition by demanding dignity, safety, and justice for women and gender-diverse people in our communities and beyond.

Speakers and marchers reminded us that feminism shouldn’t stop at borders. Our struggle is tied to the fight for liberation everywhere — for a world where women and communities are free from occupation, displacement, and war, and where people can live, organize, and build their futures without fear of violence or bombs overhead.

Local 79 stood in solidarity with students rallying at Queen’s Park today to oppose changes to OSAP that shift student aid from grants to loans.  
Thousands gathered calling on Premier Doug Ford and Minister Nolan Quinn to stop their attack on post-secondary education.

Organizers of the rally from the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario reminded us that education should be a pathway out of precarity — not another bill students are forced to carry. Students from Universities across Ontario talked about the financial stress they’re experiencing a time when the cost of living is already overwhelming.

Accessible, affordable education strengthens our entire province.
We stand with Ontario’s students!

This past Saturday, we came together for an afternoon of reflection, learning, and celebration. The program featured Land and Ancestral Acknowledgements, the Black National Anthem and poetry by Nicky Lawrence, welcome remarks from Brigett Coleman, an engaging Q&A with LTtheMonk (also our MC), and a powerful fireside chat with Robyn Maynard and Brianna Plummer.

We closed with a vibrant steelpan performance by Thadel Wilson, and time to connect over refreshments. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event so meaningful!

After meeting with leadership candidates and hearing their visions, CUPE Local 79’s Board has unanimously endorsed Avi Lewis for Leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party.

Every candidate we interviewed was great and would serve the party well. Our endorsement reflects Avi’s ability to articulate a bold and unapologetic progressive vision — one that does not settle for incremental change, but confronts inequality and the climate crisis at their roots. His commitment to strong public services and economic justice sets out a clear alternative for working people.

Avi understands that investing in public health, housing, long-term care, and frontline municipal services is how we build safer, more equitable communities. He is championing ambitious public investment, good union jobs, and a fair tax system that asks the wealthiest to contribute their fair share. He is prepared to challenge corporate power and put working people at the centre of economic decision-making.

When asked, ‘how are you going to ensure that party leaders adhere to working class principles and don’t cross the party line into another’, Avi’s response was decisive and rooted in all the right things. (See next post for his full response).

We believe Avi Lewis offers the energy and conviction to mobilize and inspire people across Canada.

Frontline workers at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital and their allies braved the cold today and rallied to demand fair bargaining and accountability.

After hospital negotiators used workers’ legal inability to strike and walked away from the bargaining table and the Sinai Health Board refused to meet with workers, we took our concerns public.

Today’s rally brought together frontline workers and allies calling for fair wages, safe staffing, and a call for the Sinai Health Board to demand that the Bridgepoint bargaining team return to bargaining and negotiate.

Speakers included:
• Nas Yadollahi, President, CUPE Local 79
• Mesey Jones, Administrative Clerk, 3 North; Service Unit Bargaining Team
• Sharon Richer, Secretary-Treasurer, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU)
• Shannon Berseth, Secretary-Treasurer, CUPE Local 79 (speaking as a former patient)
• Fred Parmanand, Registered Nurse, 10 North; Nurses & Paramedical Bargaining Team

Frontline workers at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital are raising serious concerns about patient safety, staffing, and working conditions — and they aren’t being heard.

Service workers who keep the hospital running cannot afford to live in the city they serve. Nurses are expected to perform unpaid work to protect patient safety. Workers report rising assaults, equipment failures, and delayed repairs. At the same time, management has walked away from negotiations, relying on arbitration instead of addressing these issues at the table.

This is not good-faith bargaining — and it puts patient care at risk. Be an ally and join workers this Monday to demand action from the Sinai Health Board.

Send a letter to the Sinai Health Board using the QR code on the second slide!

As many of us plan to avoid dangerous snowy conditions and traffic chaos tomorrow by working from home, thousands of City workers will still make the trek in to work to keep critical City services running. They will ensure Toronto residents continue to access the services they rely on.

We thank them and owe them our commitment to their safety.

We are heartbroken to confirm that one of our members, a City of Toronto recreation worker, died early this morning while at work at the Oakridge Community Recreation Centre.
 We mourn the loss of a colleague and extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones and coworkers. 
This tragedy also demands answers. It is deeply troubling that this worker was working alone. The City of Toronto has a Working Alone policy intended to protect workers and ensure immediate assistance in the event of an emergency. CUPE Local 79 will be working with the City of Toronto to ensure that this policy is enforced and whether it is adequate to protect workers.

No worker should be isolated, unprotected, or placed in a situation where help is not immediately available. Worker safety is non-negotiable. 
We honour our fellow member by insisting that every worker comes home safe at the end of their shift.

CUPE Local 79

Keeping Toronto at its best is what gets us up every morning. The work is worth it. And so are we.

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