Tag: Fighting Privatization
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It’s time for 7-Eleven: Round 2
Earlier this year, hundreds of you filed official objections against 7-Eleven’s dangerous, even disturbing, plan to begin serving alcohol in 61 locations across the province. Thank you for acting. It’s time for more action. For those who filed an objection and received a response from 7-Eleven, we’ve created a template reply you can use. You’ll…
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Building up our hospitals makes us better prepared
Hospitals have always stood as pillars of our public health care system, but this pandemic reminds me of that line from the Joni Mitchell song Big Yellow Taxi: “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.” We may not always love going to the hospital, but we do love public health care, and our…
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Thomas: Ontarians want hospitals fixed and funded, not privatized
The following Op Ed by OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas was published in the Toronto Sun on Friday, June 25, 2021. Thomas: Ontarians want hospitals fixed and funded, not privatized Public, not private healthcare is the solution to the crisis created by COVID-19 Turn a public crisis into an opportunity to privatize. It’s a familiar…
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Poll shows 8 out of 10 Ontarians want hospitals fixed, not privatized
Toronto – OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas says that Ontarians want the hospital capacity crisis fixed, not privatized; a position that was backed up this week by new public polling research. “This poll reflects what we public service workers already know,” said Thomas. “After a year of COVID-19, Ontarians want their government to deal with capacity…
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Thomas: Enough politics, it’s time for ethics in long-term care
The following Op Ed by OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas was published in the Toronto Sun on Friday, May 7, 2021. Thomas: Enough politics, it’s time for ethics in long-term care While capping rates of return would be a short-term solution, it’s sure to set the wheels of change in motion Profit vs. care —…
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Inquiry report underscores the need to eliminate for-profit Long-Term Care: OPSEU/SEFPO
Toronto – The key final recommendations from the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission have been long demanded by OPSEU/SEFPO. President Warren (Smokey) Thomas says the findings add up to one obvious conclusion: for-profit Long-Term Care must go. “Anyone can see that facilities where profits come before people is an obstacle to having a sector where our…
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OPSEU/SEFPO statement on PSW funding for Willis College
We are disappointed by the government’s proposal to give $2.4 million to a private career college, Willis College in Ottawa, to train 300 personal support workers (PSWs) for Ottawa-area long-term care homes. Both OPSEU/SEFPO and the government know there is a desperate need for more PSWs. Thousands of new PSWs must be trained quickly and…
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B.C. court rules against bid to expand for-profit health care
British Columbia’s Supreme Court rules against a doctor who contended that restricting private for profit health care violates the Charter. To learn more, read this article by the National Union of Public and General Employees: https://nupge.ca/content/court-delivers-major-blow-profit-health-care
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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.
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OPSEU, environmentalists cheer as Nestle sells water business
News that the multinational Nestle is selling its Canadian bottled-water business is being greeted with cheers from environmentalists across the province, including OPSEU and the OPSEU Indigenous Circle. “Water isn’t for profit. As the members of the OPSEU Indigenous Circle say, ‘Water is life,’” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “I’m glad to hear we’ve…
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Layoffs at OLG are shameful; privatization has handcuffed relief
Layoff notices issued for Ontario hospitality and gaming workers during the COVID-19 crisis are just another example of greed, and highlight how privatization is eroding government social safety nets aimed at protecting people from financial ruin or worse, says OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “All I can do is shake my head,” said Thomas, pointing…