Northern Ontario gains more CUPE members

Laurentian University teaching assistants have recently voted to join CUPE.

Mar 1, 2010 01:52 PM

As the economic downturn continues in Canada, CUPE’s commitment to improving working conditions, advancing workers’ rights, and ensuring workers are treated fairly at all times is more important than ever.

In Northern Ontario, child and youth workers at the Sault Area Hospital in Sault Ste-Marie, and graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) at Laurentian University in Sudbury, showed their confidence in CUPE by recently voting to join Canada’s largest union to improve their working and earning conditions.

“Our newest members will have the backing and support of Canada’s leading union,” said Colette Proctor, CUPE organizing representative. “During tough economic times, job security and workers’ rights are top priorities for workers and CUPE will be there to ensure our members’ rights are protected and advanced.”

The 10 child and youth workers in the Sault Area Hospital are organizing to be treated fairly as government cutbacks continue to affect service delivery at hospitals across Ontario. Meanwhile, the 233 graduate teaching assistants at Laurentian University are seeking to achieve wage parity with other universities of comparable size.

“The university administration tried unsuccessfully to cut their wages last year and now with CUPE on their side we will work with the GTAs to ensure our members’ issues are addressed properly,” adds Proctor.