Tag: COVID-19
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Thomas in the Toronto Sun: Feds need to put money in health care instead of endless lockdowns
In a Toronto Sun Opinion Editorial, OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas discusses the need for the federal government to proactively plan ahead and invest in healthcare as the long-term solution to enduring the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the full article here: As we enter month nine of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian government and public health…
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Respiratory Therapists are integral to our health
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, front-line healthcare workers have been going above and beyond to help protect Ontarians from the biggest health threat we have ever seen. With the virus being a respiratory illness, our province’s Respiratory Therapists (RT) have been some of the most heavily relied upon people to help with our safety. October 25…
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OPSEU/SEFPO calls on Ford to heed all long-term care recommendations for more staff, care
Toronto – OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is urging the Ford government to swiftly act on the recommendations of the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission, including its recommendation to hire more full-time staff and ensure that residents receive a minimum of four hours of care per day. “For years, our members in long-term care have been…
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OPSEU President calls on government to increase funding for COVID-19 testing labs
Toronto – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is calling on the Ford government to increase hospital funding for laboratories to meet COVID-19 testing targets. In its Fall Preparedness Plan, the Ford government has promised to expand COVID-19 testing targets to 50,000 tests per day, with 80 per cent of all test results to be…
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We’ve fought for pandemic pay for all
Friends: Perhaps nothing has been more controversial in the past several months than the provincial government initiated, federally funded, pandemic pay. While, generally speaking, the pandemic premium has been well received by those who have seen a temporary bump in wages, the exclusionary nature of the program has caused much derision and division amongst front-line…
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Health care unions welcome significantly improved Covid-19 protections for 400,000 health care workers
OPSEU, ONA, CUPE-OCHU, SEIU Healthcare & Unifor worked together with the Ministry of Health on the update to Directive #5, issued this week by the Chief Medical Officer of Health. The improvements to this Directive will strengthen many aspects of the health and safety protections in place for health care workers in Ontario. Read the…
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OPSEU is calling CSN’s raiding tour of Ontario jails dangerous
Toronto – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is calling the out-of-province union CSN’s meetings dangerous and socially irresponsible. “The second wave is on us, and public health officials are urging us to do everything we can to keep our distance and stop the deadly spread of COVID-19,” said Thomas, pointing to the Ontario Chief Medical…
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OPSEU applauds the Ford government’s $461 M support for Ontario’s PSWs
TORONTO – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is commending the Ford government for providing $461 million toward a wage increase for Ontario’s personal support workers (PSWs) and direct support workers (DSWs). “The government took another important step forward in protecting our long-term care residents and giving our PSWs and DSWs the appreciation they deserve,”…
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OPSEU’s Hospital Professionals Division: ‘We stand with education workers’
As education workers press on with their fight for stronger health and safety measures in their workplaces, all of OPSEU’s members, including those in the Hospital Professionals Division, stand in solidarity with them. COVID-19 numbers in Ontario continue to rise and supporting our education workers is key in making sure that hospitalization numbers stay low.…
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U.S. debate showed us what not to do
Friends, Did you watch the U.S. Presidential debate earlier this week? I watched it. But I wish I hadn’t. While the world grapples with the biggest public health crisis we’ve faced in a century, the millions of us who tuned in had to endure one of the saddest displays of “leadership” I have ever seen. …
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OPSEU calls on government to offer free PSW college education to protect seniors from COVID-19
Toronto – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas says the Ford government has made “good first steps” to protect long-term care residents from COVID-19, but that even bolder action is needed because the danger is so extreme. “Anybody with a loved-one in a long-term care home will appreciate the Premier’s decisive steps today to prevent more…
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After pushing for more safety inspectors, OPSEU welcomes government decision to hire more
Toronto – With the growing number of COVID-19 cases, and the threat of a full-blown second wave on the immediate horizon, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is pleased to see the government pro-actively hiring nearly 100 more inspectors to keep workers safe. “We’ve been telling government that we’re not through the worst of this pandemic…
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What keeps Smokey and Eddy up at night? Find out on OPSEU Talk
The pandemic has changed everything, including the way OPSEU and its active members carry out the union’s day-to-day business. This Friday, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas and First Vice-President Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida launch their new podcast – OPSEU Talk – with a conversation about some of their biggest fears, and also some of their proudest…
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Especially during the pandemic, we must work to prevent suicide
Today, September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day, OPSEU pauses to remember the 4,000 Canadians who die every year by suicide. “It’s a terrible loss for the friends and families left behind, and it’s a terrible loss for all of us,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “Tragically, these deaths could have been prevented. It’s time…
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OPSEU’s educator members meet the COVID-19 challenge head-on
On International Literacy Day, September 8, we salute and thank all our members, at every level of the province’s public educational system, for their heroic efforts to give students the best possible education under very tough circumstances. Approximately 7,000 OPSEU Boards of Education members – whose ranks were recently boosted by some 4,000 educational support…
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Thank You to our LCBO workers
You can find pandemic heroes in all sorts of places, including in our LCBO stores. When the LCBO was declared an essential service, workers answered the call and kept stores, warehouses, and distribution centres open. Here’s to each and every one of you. Responsible. Reliable. Accountable. Dependable. Let’s Keep it Public.