Bert Blundon News Today

Unions have fought long and hard on the issue of health and safety in the workplace. Today, we recommit to this struggle. We will fight for all the things to keep workers safe: presumptive coverage for those who need it, more training for hazardous work, and more accountability from employers. One injury, one death is too many."

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is commending members of Parliament serving on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) for their unanimous support of equity for forest, or wildland, firefighters.

The federal government unveiled their annual budget on April 16 and some unions are wishing it could have gone further.

As a union, we will work to create spaces where our members feel safe and valued. We will continue to work toward a society that is equitable, inclusive, and accepting of a person’s identity. We will foster this solidarity in all things we do, to be an active ally in the struggle against discrimination and injustice.

"We are saddened to share that James Clancy, a trailblazer in the labour movement, a staunch advocate for social justice and former President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), passed away on April 2, 2024," said Bert Blundon, NUPGE President. "Our deepest condolences go to his partner, Debbie and his children Allison, Nick and Alex."

"We have made the point time and again of how destructive using replacement workers is to the process of negotiation. The Supreme Court of Canada has already stated that the right to organize and bargain without interference is a protected right under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Anti-scab legislation is critical to those rights."

“Megaw’s decision protects our democratic and legal systems—the very systems that the Premier sought to bypass by pre-emptively invoking the notwithstanding clause before the legal challenge to the legislation could run its course,” said Bert Blundon, President of NUPGE.

“The Courts have once again ruled that Ontario Bill 124 is unconstitutional, reaffirming that workers’ rights are a central part of our democracy. The labour movement and our allies across the country can be proud of the commitment, skill and solidarity they demonstrated in defending these rights. We are pleased that the Ford government has now decided to comply with the law.” 

"CMHA Timiskaming-Cochrane's decision to resort to a lockout is an aggressive tactic aimed at intimidating workers, but these members see right through it."

“Workers in Canada have a constitutionally protected right to strike, and the right to assemble. Strikes are a legal part of the labour dispute process, and the Ottawa police had no business interfering.”