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President's Reports

October 2012 President's Report

07 October 2012

Dear Local 79 Sisters and Brothers:  

Local 79 has launched a campaign to fight the ‘Protecting Public Services Act, 2012’. This pending Act by the McGuinty Liberals would impose wage freezes and cuts to benefits to workers who provide provincially-funded services, like Long-Term Care, Public Health and Bridgepoint Hospital.  The negative impact of this legislation could affect every member of Local 79. This Act attacks your right to collectively bargain and gives the Province the ability to impose contracts, and to over-ride interest arbitration awards.

It’s time to speak out. Go to Local 79’s website (www.cupelocal79.org) to the Members’ Zone.  From the Members’ Portal you will be able to send a strong message about the ‘Protecting Public Services Act’ to Liberal Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) in Toronto and the GTA, and Premier McGuinty. If you aren’t in a Liberal riding you can still send a message to Premier McGuinty.

Local 79 has launched a new television ad campaign aimed at increasing awareness of and support for our members and the services you deliver. The ad, which shows Local 79 members providing services, began airing on Toronto stations on October 1st and will run until November 18th. At a time when the delivery of many of these services is being reviewed by this City administration, it is important to focus residents’ attention on the things that Torontonians are at risk of losing.

Local 79 is a major sponsor of the Cause, the Toronto Youth Cabinet’s (TYC) annual celebration of youth voice and action. On October 13th, the TYC will host an afternoon/evening at Harbourfront filled with interactive art based workshops, short film screenings, youth development workshops, and live entertainment! The theme of this year’s event, “My City”, highlights the role of the Youth Worker in My City. I appreciate the invitation to speak with so many young people who are committed to making our City a livable one. It will also be a great opportunity for me to highlight young workers who are members of Local 79, and the City services and social supports they deliver.

Local 79 members at Bridgepoint Hospital are in the process of being mapped into their new positions for the scheduled opening of April 14, 2013. We will be able to provide you with an update on the Arbitration Award for the Nurses and Paramedical Unit in the near future.

Preparations are underway for bargaining at TCHC. Local 79 will keep our members fully apprised of progress and any developments.

October 24, 2012 is Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day. This year will mark the 12th anniversary of this awareness day which recognizes the education, skills, commitment and dedication of Early Childhood Educators and Child Care Staff. Local 79 would like to acknowledge and applaud the commitment and contributions that all our members, who are child care workers and early childhood educators, make to the children in Toronto, their families and their communities. Congratulations – you do such an important job, so well! Local 79 is honouring these members at a celebration on Sunday October 28th from 2 – 4 p.m. at Steelworkers’ Hall, 25 Cecil Street. (Please see our website for additional information.)

Local 79’s 3rd Annual Golf Tournament, held on September 19th, was a huge success! The weather cooperated and by all accounts participants enjoyed a great day of golf and fun. It was great to see so many Local 79 members displaying their golfing talents! Close to $2,000 was raised for United Way, and approximately $10,000 was contributed through sponsorships to our new “Local 79 in Toronto Communities Fund”, which was launched at the tournament.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2012 Alex Gregory Memorial Scholarships. This year’s recipients are: Cindy Kurt, daughter of Cecilia Barco-Kurt – Long Term Care Homes and Services; Patrick Martin Hyo-Rim Kim, son of Joo-Ran Im –Toronto Employment and Social Services; Polina Elizabeth Zak, daughter of Ian Zak – Bridgepoint Hospital; Erika Carol, daughter of Michael Carolan – Municipal Licensing and Standards; Chelsea Alexandra Lightbourne, daughter of Lorraine Lightbourne – City Planning. Winners of the scholarship receive $500 towards their post-secondary education. Best wishes to all in your post-secondary studies!

Local 79 invites you to a Fall Dance on Friday November 16th at the Lithuanian Community House, 1573 Bloor St. West (Dundas and Bloor, Dundas Subway Station), from 6:00 p.m. until midnight. Dinner will be provided, and there will be a reasonably priced cash bar, a band, DJ, spot dances, and prizes. Come and meet other Local 79 members, and have a great time dancing to excellent music. As Local 79 will donate a portion of funds raised at this event to a local charity, members are asked to contribute a minimum of $5 per person for a worthy cause. You can reserve up to two tickets (no children) by calling 416-977-1629 extension 508 (8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Please call before November 10th as the space is limited.


In Solidarity

Tim Maguire
President, CUPE Local 79

 

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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.

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