Dear Local 79 Sisters and Brothers:

At this year’s Labour Day Parade CUPE Local 79 had our biggest contingent in recent history. Members, with their families, from the City of Toronto, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, and Bridgepoint Hospital joined sisters and brothers from both public and private sector unions in this annual celebration of working people. Everyone enjoyed marching and dancing to the music and overall the day was a resounding success. Thank you to all members who came out and took part in this special event!

This Fall, there will be a number of reports from the City’s Service Efficiency Studies (SESs). Local 79 sent a letter to Joe Pennachetti, the City Manager, requesting a clear outline of the process by which all of these Service Efficiency Studies will be considered and decisions made. These reports could have a direct impact on the services that Local 79 members deliver, and it is of prime importance that our Local can communicate directly with him. Local 79 will be looking to engage with members to help maintain these services.

Local 79 recently met with the Divisional Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation. A report reviewing how the City delivers and funds recreation is expected to go to the Community Development and Recreation Committee on October 17^th, then on to the Council meeting at the end of October. Local 79 launched a campaign to protect and promote recreation programs with our two community partners, Toronto Youth Cabinet and Social Planning Toronto. Please check out the campaign website at ‘Recreationworks.ca’ for more information.

At the end of August, a Final Report on Long Term Care Homes and Services made a number of recommendations, including that the City “maintain its current role in the municipal Long-Term Care sector”. This is good news for Local 79 members, and contrary to the findings by KPMG from the City’s Core Services Review which suggested that the City could transfer nine of its homes to other operators! Local 79 will be closely monitoring other recommendations regarding Home Care, partnerships, and consolidation of services, to ensure that our members’ jobs are protected.

The SES for Shelters, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) was completed in November 2011 recommending the closure of some shelters and the contracting out of others. There was public backlash against this direction. It remains unclear how the study will be brought forward by the City Manager’s office. 

Consultants are currently conducting the SES on museums.  The final Report is expected to be released at the end of October. Local 79 will review the findings and report back to the membership.

Our members continue to ask a significant number of questions regarding Sick Pay and Occurrences, and how the process works. As the implementation date is scheduled for January 2013, Local 79 has requested a meeting with the City to discuss this matter.

Bridgepoint Hospital has not been using the investigation line instituted by Local 79, therefore a letter has been sent to them regarding the procedure of how to make a request for an investigation meeting.

The Bridgepoint Hospital moving date is projected to be April 2013.

The Arbitration for the Bridgepoint Nurses and Paramedical Bargaining Units has been scheduled for October 16^th. Local 79 will provide members with additional information as it becomes available.

All TCHC members will receive a bargaining survey in the Fall for your input on what will be going forward to the bargaining table.

Local 79 has written to the education sector Unions expressing our strong support for their members in their current struggle with the Provincial government. The legislation recently passed at Queen’s Park, imposes collective agreements on education sector workers across the province and takes away their right to strike. The Premier’s statements that provincial and municipal employees may be targeted next are of grave concern to Local 79.

Local 79 is organizing a number of events in support of United Way Toronto in order to help the communities we serve. (see letter)

In Solidarity,

Tim Maguire
President, CUPE Local 79