“The fact that your government felt it necessary to create the CERB is a damning statement on the damage done by the restrictions on EI coverage and benefits that have been introduced over the years” Larry Brown, NUPGE President

“The economy is gradually re-opening now, but it will take years to rebuild the quantity of work back up to a level that fully occupies Canadian workers. And at the same time, we need to repair some obvious and damaging flaws in the quality of work, if we want that reopening to last and succeed.” — Jim Stanford, labour economist

“Many people have said that we can’t go back to the old normal after we’ve got COVID-19 under control. This poll shows how true that really is." — Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, OPSEU First Vice-President/Treasurer

“While the vast majority of pension plans have the resources needed to withstand the impact of COVID-19 on their investments, if a plan is forced to sell assets at fire-sale prices to meet its obligations, it will have a devastating effect. Pension plans that are forced to take this step will likely be left with substantial pension deficits that will be very difficult to eliminate." Bert Blundon, NUPGE Secretary-Treasurer

Let us offer solidarity to our neighbours in the U.S. Let us mourn the deaths, and let us vow to redouble our efforts to keep this poison of racism from growing in Canada. 

“We must all stand up against hate, discrimination and injustice — during Pride Month and every day. To our LGBTQI2S members, friends, allies, and community members: we celebrate you and we stand with you.” — Larry Brown, NUPGE President 

The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the urgency of these crises and their unequal impacts across regions and communities. The pandemic has also shown us that we can tackle crises when there is political will and social solidarity.

“The issue of child care is this generation’s medicare story, and we’ve got to get it done.” — Armine Yalnizyan

“We need to act now and bring long-term care under the Canada Health Act or we will continue to fail our seniors and see more of them die preventable deaths.” — Larry Brown, NUPGE President

"This pandemic has shown very clearly where we need to improve our health care system. Implementing pharmacare would help millions of Canadians and lower costs dramatically. Losing your job due to COVID, or for any reason, should not leave you without access to medication." — Larry Brown, President

86% of Canadians support bringing long-term care under the Canada Health Act; only 2% oppose this action.

Just last week, a strong majority of the company’s couriers in Toronto voted to join OPSEU/NUPGE, but the company is holding up their union certification with stall tactics and baseless procedural wrangling. And now in the most hamfisted, anti-union move possible, directly linked to the successful union drive, the company is laying off up to 15 per cent of its workers in Toronto and sending them home immediately.

The reason cutting public sector wages hurts the economy so badly is that, like almost all low- and middle-income earners, public sector workers spend what they earn in their communities. The bulk of what public sector workers earn goes to businesses providing items like  groceries or housing. When you take that money out of the community, everyone feels the pain.

“The government needs to be encouraging social distancing, not making it a financial penalty for reporting to work as an essential worker.” — Bob Bymoen, SGEU President.

“Although the care they provide is crucial, these workers are often under-recognized or outright forgotten. They deserve to be seen.” — Larry Brown, NUPGE President