CUPE Local 79 logo knockout
Member's Portal
CUPE Local 79 logo knockout
Member's Portal
Uncategorized

Found Safe: Michelle Yu, 18 years old

19 April 2012

*Update: Police report that Michelle Yu, previously missing, has made contact with her family.  She is safe and her family thanks everyone for their concern and prayers.*

Along with police, we’re asking for help in locating Michelle Yu, a North York high school student and Local 79 member, who disappeared Tuesday, April 17th.

Michelle was last seen Tuesday afternoon at York Mills and Chipstead roads, east of Bayview Avenue. She works as an instructor/guard for the City of Toronto at Cummer Community Centre.

Following excerpt from CityNews story:

Police say it’s unusual for her not to have come home and she hasn’t been fighting with her parents. The teen also left without her heart medication.

A security camera image of her at a TD bank machine on Bay Street captured around 6 p.m. Tuesday was released by police Wednesday afternoon. She appeared to be alone at the time.

She was supposed to attend a meeting Tuesday night, but didn’t show up, police said. She also hasn’t spoken with her friends since Tuesday afternoon.

Yu didn’t show up for school at York Mills Collegiate on Wednesday morning.

“This hasn’t happened before and the family is quite concerned and is quite distraught over her not being home,” Det. Roger Marchack said.

“If Michele is out there, if she can call the family or any of her friends and just let us know that she’s fine.”

Her sister spoke to CityNews with a message for Michele.

“It’s not just me and your friends who are worried about you, you know mom and dad are worried about you too. And so is your cousins and your aunt and so you really need to contact us as soon as possible,” said Nancy Yu.

Michele is described as:
– Asian
– Five-feet-seven-inches tall
– Between 125 and 130 pounds

She was last seen wearing a grey American Apparel hooded sweater, pants and brown moccasins. She may be wearing reading glasses.

Call 33 Division at (416) 808-3300 or Crime Stoppers at (416) 222-TIPS if you spot Yu.

Other news

Connect with Local 79

34 St Patrick St,
Toronto, ON M5T 1V1

Phone

416 977-1629

Fax

416 977-9546

Open in Google Maps
Contact us
CUPE Local 79, the union representing 30,000 City of Toronto workers, has reached a tentative agreement with the City after months of negotiations. This outcome stands as a direct result of City workers standing up in historic ways for the public services they take immense pride in delivering. City workers turned out in record numbers to demand better, with 90% voting to approve a strike mandate if a fair deal could not be reached. Throughout the bargaining process, members continued to rally around their demands—signing petitions, sending thousands of emails, attending strike schools, attending practice pickets, and signing up for picket shifts in preparation to take action if necessary. Their organization and solidarity led to meaningful improvements in this agreement. For the first time in the City’s history, CUPE Local 79 has achieved an end to minimum-wage jobs. No City of Toronto worker will earn minimum wage for the duration of this agreement, marking a significant step forward in ensuring fairness and dignity in public sector employment. Additionally, while the City’s initial proposed wage increases were not sufficient, sustained pressure from members led to gains beyond the general wage increases achieved. Through negotiations, a majority of Local 79 members will receive additional pay improvements through special wage adjustments. These measures will go a long way in protecting Toronto’s public services and turning the tide on the recruitment and retention crisis that has plagued the public service for years. For the first time, Local 79 has also negotiated a dollar amount increase for lower wage grade workers alongside the percentage increases for all members. This progressive policy helps reduce the income disparity in the workplace that has grown due to successive percentage-only increases. This agreement ensures that the lowest-paid workers see meaningful wage improvements while still securing strong increases for all members. Workers also fought back against a deal that would have forced them to accept a contract already negotiated with another union—a workforce entirely distinct in its make-up, job classifications, and pay scales.
Political staff at City Hall are one of the first points of contact residents have with the City of Toronto. They work tirelessly to serve the public and to ensure the elected person they assist is equipped and supported to do their work. Like Local 79 members and all other working class people in our city, political staff deserve fairness and respect. Solidarity with the brave political staff who organized their workplace at City Hall and congratulations on being one step closer to joining @amapceo!
Thank you to the supporters who came out today for our information pickets outside of Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre and Parkway Forest Community Centre: @fairwagesnow, MPP @alexangilmour, and former MPP @bhutilakarpoche!
City workers and supporters are holding information pickets today outside Cummer Lodge Long-Term Care Home and Don Montgomery Community Centre to call for investment in @cityofto’s public services. Decades of underfunding and understaffing have left essential services—child care, public health, shelters, recreation, long-term care, and housing support—stretched thin. We’re standing up for strong public services that Toronto residents deserve.
The International Women’s Day March Committee has invited CUPE Local 79 to lead this year’s march, which will end at City Hall in support of Local 79 members—City workers whose membership is over 70% women. Local 79 members are proud to stand alongside allies ahead of the final week of negotiations, with a Sunday-at-midnight strike deadline looming. We are fighting for a fair deal for a union made up mostly of women and racialized workers—workers who have been left behind through years of underinvestment. Join us in the streets as we march for equity and respect. This Saturday at 11 a.m. (rally) and 1 p.m. (march) at OISE - 252 Bloor St. W #IWD2025 #FairContractNow
Hundreds of Local 79 members came out on Sunday for our picket making and solidarity skate. We know our bargaining team is doing everything they can to push for a fair deal - but we have to be ready in case the City decides to force us into a strike this weekend.
CUPE Local 79, the union representing 30,000 City of Toronto workers, has reached a tentative agreement with the City after months of negotiations. This outcome stands as a direct result of City workers standing up in historic ways for the public services they take immense pride in delivering. City workers turned out in record numbers to demand better, with 90% voting to approve a strike mandate if a fair deal could not be reached. Throughout the bargaining process, members continued to rally around their demands—signing petitions, sending thousands of emails, attending strike schools, attending practice pickets, and signing up for picket shifts in preparation to take action if necessary. Their organization and solidarity led to meaningful improvements in this agreement. For the first time in the City’s history, CUPE Local 79 has achieved an end to minimum-wage jobs. No City of Toronto worker will earn minimum wage for the duration of this agreement, marking a significant step forward in ensuring fairness and dignity in public sector employment. Additionally, while the City’s initial proposed wage increases were not sufficient, sustained pressure from members led to gains beyond the general wage increases achieved. Through negotiations, a majority of Local 79 members will receive additional pay improvements through special wage adjustments. These measures will go a long way in protecting Toronto’s public services and turning the tide on the recruitment and retention crisis that has plagued the public service for years. For the first time, Local 79 has also negotiated a dollar amount increase for lower wage grade workers alongside the percentage increases for all members. This progressive policy helps reduce the income disparity in the workplace that has grown due to successive percentage-only increases. This agreement ensures that the lowest-paid workers see meaningful wage improvements while still securing strong increases for all members. Workers also fought back against a deal that would have forced them to accept a contract already negotiated with another union—a workforce entirely distinct in its make-up, job classifications, and pay scales.
Political staff at City Hall are one of the first points of contact residents have with the City of Toronto. They work tirelessly to serve the public and to ensure the elected person they assist is equipped and supported to do their work. Like Local 79 members and all other working class people in our city, political staff deserve fairness and respect. Solidarity with the brave political staff who organized their workplace at City Hall and congratulations on being one step closer to joining @amapceo!
Thank you to the supporters who came out today for our information pickets outside of Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre and Parkway Forest Community Centre: @fairwagesnow, MPP @alexangilmour, and former MPP @bhutilakarpoche!
City workers and supporters are holding information pickets today outside Cummer Lodge Long-Term Care Home and Don Montgomery Community Centre to call for investment in @cityofto’s public services. Decades of underfunding and understaffing have left essential services—child care, public health, shelters, recreation, long-term care, and housing support—stretched thin. We’re standing up for strong public services that Toronto residents deserve.

CUPE Local 79

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

Quick links

Connect with us

Facebook-f X-twitter Instagram Youtube
416 977-1629
local79@cupelocal79.org
© CUPE Local 79