CUPE Local 79

02/18/2026

After meeting with leadership candidates and hearing their visions, CUPE Local 79’s Board has unanimously endorsed Avi Lewis for Leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party.

Every candidate we interviewed was great and would serve the party well. Our endorsement reflects Avi’s ability to articulate a bold and unapologetic progressive vision — one that does not settle for incremental change, but confronts inequality and the climate crisis at their roots. His commitment to strong public services and economic justice sets out a clear alternative for working people.

Avi understands that investing in public health, housing, long-term care, and frontline municipal services is how we build safer, more equitable communities. He is championing ambitious public investment, good union jobs, and a fair tax system that asks the wealthiest to contribute their fair share. He is prepared to challenge corporate power and put working people at the centre of economic decision-making.

When asked, ‘how are you going to ensure that party leaders adhere to working class principles and don’t cross the party line into another’, Avi’s response was decisive and rooted in all the right things. (See next post for his full response).

We believe Avi Lewis offers the energy and conviction to mobilize and inspire people across Canada.

02/18/2026

Watch Avi Lewis, newly endorsed federal NDP leadership candidate by Local 79’s Executive Board, answer the question: “How will you ensure that party leaders adhere to working-class principles and don’t cross the party line?”

02/14/2026

After the Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital bargaining team walked away from negotiations — fully aware that Ontario’s Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act (HLDAA) strips hospital workers of the right to strike and forces disputes into arbitration — and after the Sinai Health Board refused to meet directly with frontline staff, CUPE Local 79 members rallied to demand respect and ensure their voices were heard.

Members are fighting for fair wages that support recruitment and retention, meaningful improvements to staffing levels, protections against escalating workloads, and basic respect in the workplace. Workers have raised serious concerns about chronic understaffing, low wages — with 20% of service workers earning below a living wage — and unfair practices, including nearly $1 million a year in unpaid nursing labour tied to end-of-shift transition-of-care work.

Community allies stood shoulder to shoulder with workers, reinforcing that these issues affect both working conditions and patient care.

Speakers at the rally included:
• Nas Yadollahi, President, CUPE Local 79
• Mesey Jones, Administrative Clerk, 3 North; Service Unit Bargaining Team
• Sharon Richer, Secretary-Treasurer, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU)
• Shannon Berseth, Secretary-Treasurer, CUPE Local 79 (speaking as a former patient)
• Fred Parmanand, Registered Nurse, 10 North; Nurses & Paramedical Bargaining Team

02/10/2026

Frontline workers at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital and their allies braved the cold today and rallied to demand fair bargaining and accountability.

After hospital negotiators used workers’ legal inability to strike and walked away from the bargaining table and the Sinai Health Board refused to meet with workers, we took our concerns public.

Today’s rally brought together frontline workers and allies calling for fair wages, safe staffing, and a call for the Sinai Health Board to demand that the Bridgepoint bargaining team return to bargaining and negotiate.

Speakers included:
• Nas Yadollahi, President, CUPE Local 79
• Mesey Jones, Administrative Clerk, 3 North; Service Unit Bargaining Team
• Sharon Richer, Secretary-Treasurer, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU)
• Shannon Berseth, Secretary-Treasurer, CUPE Local 79 (speaking as a former patient)
• Fred Parmanand, Registered Nurse, 10 North; Nurses & Paramedical Bargaining Team

02/07/2026

Solidarité avec nos camarades de Montréal de la part des 31, 700 travailleurs de la section Local 79.
Rester Forte! ✊🏼

Solidarity with our comrades in Montreal, from all 31,700 workers at CUPE Local 79 ! Stand strong comrades. ✊🏼

02/04/2026

Join us for our Black History Month celebration on Saturday, February 28, from 4–7 pm at 25 Cecil Street.
This year’s theme is Celebrating the Power of Black Organizing.
MC: Liam Tyndall
Keynote speakers: Robyn Maynard and Rania El-Mugammar

02/04/2026

Frontline workers at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital are raising serious concerns about patient safety, staffing, and working conditions — and they aren’t being heard.

Service workers who keep the hospital running cannot afford to live in the city they serve. Nurses are expected to perform unpaid work to protect patient safety. Workers report rising assaults, equipment failures, and delayed repairs. At the same time, management has walked away from negotiations, relying on arbitration instead of addressing these issues at the table.

This is not good-faith bargaining — and it puts patient care at risk. Be an ally and join workers this Monday to demand action from the Sinai Health Board.

Send a letter to the Sinai Health Board using the QR code on the second slide!

01/26/2026

As many of us plan to avoid dangerous snowy conditions and traffic chaos tomorrow by working from home, thousands of City workers will still make the trek in to work to keep critical City services running. They will ensure Toronto residents continue to access the services they rely on.We thank them and owe them our commitment to their safety.

01/21/2026

We are heartbroken to confirm that one of our members, a City of Toronto recreation worker, died early this morning while at work at the Oakridge Community Recreation Centre.

We mourn the loss of a colleague and extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones and coworkers.

This tragedy also demands answers. It is deeply troubling that this worker was working alone. The City of Toronto has a Working Alone policy intended to protect workers and ensure immediate assistance in the event of an emergency. CUPE Local 79 will be working with the City of Toronto to ensure that this policy is enforced and whether it is adequate to protect workers.

No worker should be isolated, unprotected, or placed in a situation where help is not immediately available. Worker safety is non-negotiable.

We honour our fellow member by insisting that every worker comes home safe at the end of their shift.

01/12/2026

CUPE Local 79 members showed up at Toronto’s No to Hate rally this past weekend — because that’s what union members do! When hate tries to divide us, we organize.

Thank you to Community Solidarity Toronto, and the , and all the organizers who brought people together to say: hate has no place in our city.

01/09/2026