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The Gardiner Tsunami 2016

The Gardiner Tsunami 2016

Connect with Local 79

34 St Patrick St,
Toronto, ON M5T 1V1

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416 977-9546

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Bridgepoint Hospital workers showed incredible unity during this week’s “United for Patient Care - United for Respect” t-shirt actions — and it’s clear why. Sinai Health has refused for months to seriously engage with our bargaining proposals, ignored our monetary demands, and even walked out of the building during conciliation without notice.

Meanwhile, they admit they rely on $1.8 million in unpaid work from us every year.

We deserve fairness, respect, and real bargaining — not delay tactics. We’re not backing down!

CUPE Local 79 members at Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC) have voted yesterday to ratify new four-year collective agreements.

These agreements were won through sustained, widespread member organizing. This collective strength delivered meaningful gains.

Across both agreements, members will see general increases totalling over 14% over the lifespan of the deal — helping recover ground lost to years of inflation and stagnant wages. In addition, Local 79 secured wage improvements that give higher percentage increases to the lowest wage classifications through dollar-based increases — an approach unique to Local 79’s bargaining strategy, directly targeting internal wage inequities.

During the bargaining process, Local 79 uncovered TCHC budget documents that showed what frontline workers have long known: funding has not kept pace with the growing needs of residents or the realities of maintaining and operating one of the largest housing providers in North America. Years of chronic underinvestment have left workers stretched and communities underserved, underscoring the need for urgent political attention to Toronto’s housing crisis.

“The public needs to understand that our housing system is being held together by workers who are doing everything they can in conditions that have been underfunded for years,” said Local 79 President Nas Yadollahi. “Toronto residents must wake up to the scale of our housing crisis. All levels of government need to make proper investment in affordable housing a priority in every election because stable, safe housing is the foundation of a healthy city.”

Both employers formally acknowledged serious safety concerns raised by workers. Each agreement establishes a new union health and safety position, along with strengthened protections and clearer processes to address violence, hazards, and workplace investigations.

Members protected their benefits against concession demands and won enhancements to mental-health, paramedical, vision, orthodontic, gender-affirming, and family-building coverage.

Last week, Parks, Recreation and Forestry Forepersons delivered a petition to the City, calling for fair wages, job security, and recognition of the increasing responsibilities placed on their roles.

When workers organize - they can win!

We at CUPE Local 79 are deeply saddened to learn that a City of Toronto waste-collection worker has died on the job this morning. We extend our heartfelt condolences to this worker’s family, loved ones, and co-workers, and stand in solidarity with this worker’s union, @cupelocal416.

No worker should ever lose their life doing their job. We join the broader labour movement in mourning, and support a full and transparent investigation. �
CUPE Local 79 joins all those grieving this terrible loss.

CUPE Local 79 has reached a tentative agreement with the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC) on behalf of more than 800 frontline workers who keep tenants safe, supported, and housed across the city.

This breakthrough comes after unprecedented worker mobilization across both corporations. Earlier this fall, Local 79 members delivered a historic strike mandate — the strongest ever among TCHC and TSHC workers — demonstrating a level of unity, coordination, and determination never before seen in these workplaces.

“This tentative agreement is the direct result of workers organizing, standing together and insisting on fairness,” said Nas Yadollahi, President of CUPE Local 79. “Members made it clear that they deserve working conditions that keep them safe, proper supports needed to deliver quality services to tenants, and this agreement reflects that collective power.”

Full details of the agreement will be shared publicly once members ratify the agreement.

Victory! Children’s Services workers across Toronto win the end of a vacation policy that saw workers unable to take time off until their managers did.

For the past year, workers took action organizing their colleagues site by site. Workers spoke to City officials and presented evidence of deep power building to the employer several times. The division has now confirmed a new vacation policy that gives Children’s Services staff exactly what they demanded.

Brick by brick our local is showing what is possible when we build solidarity and direct power.

Congratulations to the workers who made it possible!

Bridgepoint Hospital workers showed incredible unity during this week’s “United for Patient Care - United for Respect” t-shirt actions — and it’s clear why. Sinai Health has refused for months to seriously engage with our bargaining proposals, ignored our monetary demands, and even walked out of the building during conciliation without notice.

Meanwhile, they admit they rely on $1.8 million in unpaid work from us every year.

We deserve fairness, respect, and real bargaining — not delay tactics. We’re not backing down!

CUPE Local 79 members at Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC) have voted yesterday to ratify new four-year collective agreements.

These agreements were won through sustained, widespread member organizing. This collective strength delivered meaningful gains.

Across both agreements, members will see general increases totalling over 14% over the lifespan of the deal — helping recover ground lost to years of inflation and stagnant wages. In addition, Local 79 secured wage improvements that give higher percentage increases to the lowest wage classifications through dollar-based increases — an approach unique to Local 79’s bargaining strategy, directly targeting internal wage inequities.

During the bargaining process, Local 79 uncovered TCHC budget documents that showed what frontline workers have long known: funding has not kept pace with the growing needs of residents or the realities of maintaining and operating one of the largest housing providers in North America. Years of chronic underinvestment have left workers stretched and communities underserved, underscoring the need for urgent political attention to Toronto’s housing crisis.

“The public needs to understand that our housing system is being held together by workers who are doing everything they can in conditions that have been underfunded for years,” said Local 79 President Nas Yadollahi. “Toronto residents must wake up to the scale of our housing crisis. All levels of government need to make proper investment in affordable housing a priority in every election because stable, safe housing is the foundation of a healthy city.”

Both employers formally acknowledged serious safety concerns raised by workers. Each agreement establishes a new union health and safety position, along with strengthened protections and clearer processes to address violence, hazards, and workplace investigations.

Members protected their benefits against concession demands and won enhancements to mental-health, paramedical, vision, orthodontic, gender-affirming, and family-building coverage.

Last week, Parks, Recreation and Forestry Forepersons delivered a petition to the City, calling for fair wages, job security, and recognition of the increasing responsibilities placed on their roles.

When workers organize - they can win!

We at CUPE Local 79 are deeply saddened to learn that a City of Toronto waste-collection worker has died on the job this morning. We extend our heartfelt condolences to this worker’s family, loved ones, and co-workers, and stand in solidarity with this worker’s union, @cupelocal416.

No worker should ever lose their life doing their job. We join the broader labour movement in mourning, and support a full and transparent investigation. �
CUPE Local 79 joins all those grieving this terrible loss.

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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