The staff of a leading Greater Toronto Area homelessness research and policy organization, the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, became CUPE members yesterday following a Labour Board decision.
The workers, who are joining CUPE 3903, voted overwhelmingly to form a union on April 5. Workers initiated the union drive because of low wages, inadequate benefits and concerns around a lack of supports as they perform emotionally taxing work.
The Observatory conducts research into solutions to homelessness and is affiliated with York University, where CUPE’s membership already includes more than 3000 academic and support workers.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada’s largest union, with 750,000 members across the country. CUPE represents workers in health care, emergency services, education, early learning and child care, municipalities, social services, libraries, utilities, transportation, airlines and more.