SUPPORT REQUESTED | River Run 2026: Walk with Grassy Narrows for Mercury Justice!

On Wednesday September 23rd 2026 at 12pm you are invited to walk with Grassy Narrows youth and community members to show that we are with them on their path to achieve mercury justice and freedom!

Grassy Narrows people are powerful leaders in the movement for Indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice. They have shown that together we can fight for justice against all odds and make real gains. But so much is still needed to right the wrong of mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows.

RSVP at the link below, to say that you will show up in solidarity and walk with them in their fight for justice.

RSVP is intended to help plan for the day but is not mandatory to attend the event.

 

https://cupe.on.ca/event/river-run-2026-walk-with-grassy-narrows-for-mercury-justice/

CALL TO ACTION: An insult to injury: stop the layoffs at WSIB

500 CUPE members are losing their jobs as the WSIB moves to permanently close 10 regional offices across the province.

These aren’t just job cuts. Closing these offices will make it harder for injured workers and local employers to access the knowledgeable, community-based service they rely on, especially in Northern Ontario.

We’re asking CUPE members and supporters to take action. Use the tool below to send a message directly to your MPP and tell them to stand up for WSIB workers, protect good jobs in communities across Ontario, and demand that the government reverse these closures.

It takes just a minute to make your voice heard. Stand with OCEU CUPE 1750 and the 500 workers facing layoffs. https://cupe.on.ca/stopthelayoffs/

Great turnout for Merritton Lions Labour Day Parade

Large crowd of Union members facing the camera

Monday, September 7, CUPE Members from Niagara showed up to represent in the Merritton Labour Day parade.

The history of Labour Day started with an 1872 printers’ strike in Toronto. Workers fought for a nine-hour workday when unions were still illegal. Their protest led to the Trade Unions Act, which made unions legal. Labour Day was recognized as an official national statutory holiday in 1894 under the direction of Prime Minister John Thompson.

CUPE 1287 Plans Community Day in Firemen’s Park Niagara Falls

CUPE 1287 and local labour friendly organizations invite their members and the public to a Community Day in the Park.

Building a strong community takes people power. Workers and citizens need to connect to showcase and celebrate the important work that occurs in their community. Come out on Saturday, September 19th, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm to Firemen’s Park in Niagara Falls, located at 2275 Dorchester Road. There will be free food, swag, giveaways, and chances to win some great prizes.

We would love to see you there!

Port Colborne rally for keeping water services public!

Tuesday, July 14, we had a rally for public water services in Port Colborne.
Concerned citizens, CUPE members from 1287 and other CUPE representatives, and members of ATU Local standing together to tell Port Colborne City Council that water is a public trust, not a corporate asset.
Local citizens deserve honest answers and transparency from their elected officials!
Group of CUPE Local 1287 members and citizens listening to concerns about water privatization.
🚨Will Port Colborne commit that it will not pursue a Water and Wastewater Services Corporation? They promise an MSC wholly owned by the Corporation of the City of Port Colborne. Will they stand by their word?
🚨Will Council members, voted into power by their constituents commit to keeping our water and wastewater services directly accountable to the public? We’ve seen the devastation that occurs when public services are sold to private enterprise.
🚨Will Council commit to investing in public infrastructure before expanding corporate service models? Intelligent investment provides vital services to citizen taxpayers.
Union members hold placards
CUPE does the research, CUPE asks the questions, CUPE represents workers AND works hard for the citizens in our communities.
We want residents to know that approximately $10.8 million in development charge relief was provided for the battery plant. Residents deserve to know what public benefits were secured in return, and how those decisions affect future infrastructure funding and taxpayers.
CUPE brings the fight to parliament. CUPE confronts provincial leaders. Communities continue to struggle with funding essential water and wastewater infrastructure while significant public investments are being made in other projects.
CUPE 1287 is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with citizens and other unionists. Your voice matters. We keep asking the questions and holding elected officials accountable.  Strong public services for strong communities!
Power to the people ✊
Workes and citizens against privatizing water hold placards against a panel van
(with thanks to Krista Laing – CUPE Ontario Municipal Workers Chair)

Ridgefest was a success!

We show up, we educate, we support, we fight. 💪 CUPE Local 1287 promotes strong public services because those services support strong communities. Citizens deserve a government that works for them🫵, not a government that works against them. See us? Join us! We were at Ridgefest this past weekend, July 10 – 12, answering questions about water privatization, informing about the Worth Fighting For campaign and promoting strong local governance and involvement. ✊

Woman wearing black hat and black t-shirt in a tent with a rainbow prize wheel

Ribstock a success!!

CUPE 1287 fights privatization at RibstockCUPE 1287 members at Ribstock with the mascot a big pig

This past weekend (Friday, July 19, – Sunday, July 21), CUPE 1287 members and other supporters of Strong Communities – Strong Public Services put the time in showcasing the important work we all do in the community.

Krista Laing – CUPE Ontario Municipal Workers Chair, and Wayne Gates, NDP MPP for Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, and Niagara-on-the-Lake.  joined us, vocal supporters of keeping strong public services in the hands of our taxpayers. Piggy Smalls, the Ribstock mascot, came by to show their solidarity!

450 petitions were signed, hundreds of fliers and information sheets distributed, the public educated on the services in danger of privatization and the community members who provide those services.

Bill 98 and Bill 100 – the privatization of water and strong chair powers were the main focal points, but other issues that concern our community were also discussed.

A big thank you to all members who volunteered to make this a success!