The CUPE Cast

CUPE Ontario

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POLITICS
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The official podcast of CUPE Ontario.

JAN 19

Bulldozing Ontario with Bill 60

The Ontario government introduced Bill 60, the “Fighting Delays. Building Fast Act,” in October 2025. With this omnibus bill bulldozing its way through Queen’s Park, it has quickly brought in reforms that will affect tenants’ rights and new opportunities to privatize our public water. On this episode, you’ll hear from tenant organizer An and CUPE Local 1785 wastewater worker James Marangon. Join the podcast to hear us talk about Bill 60, the changes it brings and its impacts on tenants and workers across the province. Show notes: Episode correction: There is an incorrect reference to the implementation of the transition to a Water Wastewater Corporation by Summer/Fall of 2027. Bill 60 proposed a transition date for Peel Water Wastewater services of January 1, 2029; however, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has the power to change that date by regulation. Housing segment starts at 20:22 Water segment starts at 1:01:18 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (October 28, 2025) | Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 - https://www.amo.on.ca/policy/land-use-planning-resources-and-climate-change/bill-60-fighting-delays-building-faster-act Association of Municipalities of Ontario (November 25, 2025) | Advocacy on Bill 60, Data Standards, Blue Box and Conservation Authority Consolidation - https://www.amo.on.ca/policy/land-use-planning-resources-and-climate-change/advocacy-bill-60-data-standards-blue-box-and Brampton Guardian (December 13, 2025) | Brampton councillors angry over Ontario ‘Fighting Delays, Building Faster’ bill- https://www.bramptonguardian.com/news/council/brampton-angry-over-bill-60/article_7073b85e-195b-57fb-a344-9175d5c80510.html CBC News (November 12, 2025) | Toronto council votes to oppose Bill 60, saying it could increase evictions, weaken tenant rights - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-council-votes-oppose-ford-government-bill-60-9.6976288 CUPE Ontario (December 15, 2025) | Bill 60 Webinar: Municipal Service Corporations & The Future of Public Water - https://youtu.be/_q4xWXTPeYo?si=ry3PHLMQulxld5Dl CUPE Ontario (November 25, 2025) | Ontario water at risk as government rushes privatization and deregulation with Bill 60 - https://cupe.ca/ontario-water-risk-government-rushes-privatization-and-deregulation-bill-60 CUPE Ontario (November 18, 2025 | Keep Water Public coalition: Conservative government’s Bill 60 turns water into a business and threatens public health - https://cupe.on.ca/keep-water-public-coalition-conservative-governments-bill-60-turns-water-into-a-business-and-threatens-public-health/ CUPE Ontario | Keep Water Public - https://keepwaterpublic.ca/ York South-Weston Tenant Union - https://www.tenantunion.ca/ Youth South-Weston Tenant Union email - info@tenantunion.ca Youth South-Weston Tenant Union Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yswtenantunion/

1h 20m
09/12/2025

Save Our OMERS

CUPE Cast is back! In this episode, Brianna welcomes the two new co-hosts to the podcast: Katherine Grzejszczak and Krista Laing. Plus, Brianna, Katherine and Krista discuss the OMERS governance review. As the Ford Government calls for a review of OMERS, CUPE Ontario has launched the “Save our OMERS” campaign to spread its awareness about the review and highlight why CUPE members should have their say about what happens to the management of their pensions. CUPE Ontario’s President Fred Hahn and researcher and professor Kevin Skerrett join the CUPE Cast co-hosts to share their insights on this important issue. Show notes CUPE Ontario | Save our OMERS - https://cupe.on.ca/saveouromers/ CUPE Ontario | 2025 OMERS Governance Review Submission (July 18, 2025) - https://cupe.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/CUPE-Submissions-OMERS-Governance.pdf CUPE Ontario | OMERS Webinar (June 5, 2025) - https://youtu.be/PtDKGzx7oo4?si=JjdsZp-blR2QWmLu Spring Magazine | Doug Ford and OMERS executives side step pensioners (August 28, 2025) - https://springmag.ca/doug-ford-and-omers-executives-side-step-pensioners

1h 21m
08/12/2025

Trades: Every Day, Everywhere!

The trades are in high demand—not only for new skilled workers, but also to keep up with the growing demand from communities and cities. Chris Yates, President of CUPE Local 2361 and co-chair of CUPE Ontario’s Trades Committee, sits down with CUPE Cast co-host Brianna to shed light on the Trades sector. In this episode, Chris and Brianna explore some of the issues affecting trades workers in the workplace and discuss current campaigns from CUPE Ontario’s Trade Committee. Show notes:CUPE Ontario | Trades - https://cupe.on.ca/committees/trades/CUPE Ontario | Trades Action Plan 2025 - https://cupe.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Trades-Action-Plan-2025.pdfOntario Federation of Labour | Heat Stress Campaign - https://ofl.ca/action/the-heat-is-on/

1h 4m
07/16/2025

Tackling Tariffs

It seems lately, one of the big topics on the news and with businesses is tariffs. With the United States imposing new tariffs on Canada and other countries, what does that mean for the Canadian economy and, most importantly, the working class? In this episode of CUPE Cast, the co-hosts are joined by CUPE National’s Research Director, Angella MacEwen, who breaks down the concepts of tariffs, the impact on CUPE members and the potential repercussions on public sector services. Show notes CUPE National | Public protections against Trump’s tariffs – https://cupe.ca/public-protections-against-trumps-tariffs CUPE National | Stand on Guard: Add your name to the Montreal Declaration (petition) – https://cupe.ca/stand-guard-add-your-name-montreal-declaration CUPE National | Tariffs Fact Sheet – https://cupe.ca/tariffs-fact-sheet CUPE National | Unifor – CUPE Joint Statement – https://cupe.ca/unifor-cupe-joint-statement Satisitics Canada | Canadian international merchandise trade, February 2025 – https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250403/dq250403a-eng.htm

45 min
06/06/2025

CUPE on Strike!

Frustrated by stagnant wages and crumbling public services, workers are turning to our most powerful tool — the strike — to fight back and win real gains. As of June 1, 2025, three CUPE locals are on strike across Ontario. These workers are standing strong, and they need your support. Come hear directly from them, their stories, their struggles, and the solidarity they’re counting on. One day longer, one day stronger. CUPE 2073: Representing 200 workers at the Canadian Hearing Society, who provide vital services to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. CUPE 1750: Representing 3,600 WSIB staff who care for Ontario’s injured workers and ensure they get the support they need. CUPE 5525: Representing 25 dedicated Personal Care Workers at Villa Colombo’s Supportive Housing Unit in Toronto. Let’s show up, stand together, and send a clear message: when we fight, we win! Show Notes: CUPE Ontario| Petition supporting Canadian Hearing Society workershttps://cupe.on.ca/chs/ CUPE Ontario | Petition supporting Villa Columbo workershttps://cupe.on.ca/support-villa-colombo-workers/CUPE Ontario| Petition supporting WSIB workers https://cupe.on.ca/more-than-insurance-cupe-1750-members-need-a-fair-deal-now/

55 min
05/14/2025

Stronger Together

Back in March 2025, CUPE National held a Building Strong Locals Conference in Montreal. CUPE members from across the country gathered in one place to build their skills on member mobilization and engagement, as well as to have conversations about defending public services against right-wing threats and bargaining to win. In this episode, CUPE co-hosts Brianna and Moe catch up with Chloe Bell, Jessica Lyons and Leila Meskine, three comrades who facilitated the “Lessons from Ontario in Building Strong Locals” panel at the conference and dive into their thoughts and perspectives on building strong locals. Show notes: CUPE National | Building Strong Locals Conference 2025 – https://cupe.ca/event/building-strong-locals-conference-0 CUPE National | Building Strong Locals Conference Resources – https://cupe.ca/building-strong-locals-conference-resources CUPE National | Building Power Initiative presentation deck - https://cupe-my.sharepoint.com/personal/iclysdale_cupe_ca/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Ficlysdale%5Fcupe%5Fca%2FDocuments%2FBuilding%20Strong%20Locals%20Conference%202025%20%2D%20Resources%2FPanel%20%2D%20Stronger%20together&ga=1 Toronto & York Region Labour Council - Campaign Planning Handbook – https://www.labourcouncil.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/campaign_planning_handbook-1.pdf

1h 10m
02/26/2025

Provincial Election & Workers' Democracy

It's election season in Ontario! With eligible voters heading to the polls on Thursday, February 27, 2025, the CUPE Cast hosts jump right in to discuss the provincial election. In this episode, they explore why the provincial election is taking place over a year early and discuss several issues affecting CUPE members as they head to the polls. Dr. Carlo Fanelli shares his insights about the current state of Ontario and the impacts of the Progressive Conservatives government's years of austerity on Ontarians' social and economic prosperity. Sources Breach Media Canada (February 7, 2025) - Ontario for sale: how Doug Ford is dismantling the province | https://breachmedia.ca/ontario-doug-ford-dismantled/ Carlo Fanelli, PHD | https://carlofanelli.org/ CBC News (January 28, 2025) - Why calling an election now helps Doug Ford and his Ontario PCs | https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-ontario-election-call-politics-1.7442723 CBC News (January 3, 2025) - Ford government's $200 rebate cheques going out in mail, finance ministry says| https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-government-rebate-cheques-expected-january-february-1.7422808 CTV News (January 29, 2025) - Why Doug Ford called an early Ontario election and everything else you need to know as the campaign begins | https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/why-doug-ford-called-an-early-ontario-election-and-everything-else-you-need-to-know-as-the-campaign-begins/ CUPE (January 27, 2025) - Workers focus on Ford's failures as CUPE Ontario launches "Fire the Boss" election campaign | https://cupe.ca/workers-focus-fords-failures-cupe-ontario-launches-fire-boss-election-campaign CUPE Ontario - CUPE Votes | https://cupe.on.ca/cupe-votes/ CUPE Ontario - Fire Ford | https://fireford.vote/ CUPE Ontario (December 6, 2024) - Tories must ban staffing agencies, not simply legislate data collection of administrative and billing information | https://cupe.on.ca/tories-must-ban-staffing-agencies-not-simply-legislate-data-collection-of-administrative-and-billing-information/ Ontario Federation of Labour - Ford Tracker | https://ofl.ca/ford-tracker/ Ontario Medical Association (January 29, 2025) - In an election that puts Ontario first, your health shouldn't be second | https://www.oma.org/newsroom/news/2025/january/in-an-election-that-puts-ontario-first-your-health-shouldnt-be-second/ The Agenda with Steve Paikin (February 5, 2025) - Who Are Labour Unions Backing in the Ontario Election? | https://www.tvo.org/video/who-are-labour-unions-backing-in-the-ontario-election The Wellesley Institute (February 6, 2025) - Ontario Election series: Ontarians must thrive | https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/elections/ontario-election-series-ontarians-must-thrive/

47 min
02/04/2025

Back to the Bargaining Table

CUPE Cast is back, and Brianna is joined by a new co-host, Mohammed (Moe) Alqasem. In the first episode of 2025, Moe and Brianna sit down with Brandon Hayes from CUPE Local 4948 and Nas Yadollahi from CUPE Local 79 to discuss their bargaining process as they return to the bargaining table with their employer. With understaffing, health and safety, and wages being some of the key issues, these local presidents share what is at stake not only for their members but also for the future of public services in Toronto. Show notes: CP24 | Union representing 30,000 City of Toronto workers votes for strike mandate: https://www.cp24.com/news/2025/01/21/union-representing-30000-city-of-toronto-workers-votes-for-strike-mandate/ Toronto and York Region Labour Council | OPENING THE BOOK ON CITY BARGAINING WITH CUPE 4948 - Labour Action Fall 2024: https://assets.nationbuilder.com/torontoyorklabour/pages/77/attachments/original/1732054417/D201093589_LabourAction-Fall2024_WEB_%281%29.pdf Voices of Linden TV | Let's Talk with Nas Yadollahi | Local 79 President (December 2024): https://youtu.be/Pf2TPSx2s84?si=xSJlET80_2upcIXlhttps://youtu.be/Pf2TPSx2s84?si=xSJlET80_2upcIXl Our Public Library: https://ourpubliclibrary.to/ Support CUPE Locals 4948 and 79 by following their social media accounts CUPE Local 4948: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TPLWULocal4948 X - https://x.com/Local4948 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/local4948/ CUPE Local 79: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cupe79 X - https://x.com/cupelocal79 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cupelocal79/ CUPE Local 79 | Worth it: https://cupelocal79.org/worth-it

59 min

The official podcast of CUPE Ontario.

Creator

CUPE Ontario
Years Active

2022 - 2026
Episodes

48
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© CUPE Ontario
Show Website

The CUPE Cast