Latest news with #JuliaDumanian
National Post
02-05-2025
- General
- National Post
UPDATE: CUPE 2073 to Hold Press Conference on Strike, State of Services for Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing Ontarians at Mayfest
Article content TORONTO — Ontario's largest celebration of Deaf culture will serve as the backdrop for an update about the ongoing strike by CUPE 2073 members who work at Canadian Hearing Services (CHS). Hundreds are gathering for the annual Mayfest expo as workers who support Deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing Ontarians continue to fight to improve services. Article content Article content Quick Facts: Article content CUPE 2073's members support Ontario's Deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing community as audiologists, employment consultants, counsellors, sign language interpreters and in other roles at Canadian Hearing Services offices across the province. They have been on strike since April 28. This is the second strike at CHS under the leadership of Julia Dumanian who become CEO of CHS in 2017. In that time, workers have seen their wages fall 16% behind inflation while senior management have enjoyed double digit percentage increases CHS staff levels have plummeted in recent years, down to roughly 200 from a high of over 500, impacting the quality and depth of services that Deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing Ontarians receive. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
National Post
01-05-2025
- General
- National Post
CUPE 2073 to Hold Press Conference on Strike, State of Services for Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing Ontarians at Mayfest
Article content TORONTO — Ontario's largest celebration of Deaf culture will serve as the backdrop for an update about the ongoing strike by CUPE 2073 members who work at Canadian Hearing Services (CHS). Hundreds are gathering for the annual Mayfest expo as workers who support Deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing Ontarians continue to fight to improve services. Article content Article content Quick Facts: Article content CUPE 2073's members support Ontario's Deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing community as audiologists, employment consultants, counsellors, sign language interpreters and in other roles at Canadian Hearing Services offices across the province. They have been on strike since April 28. This is the second strike at CHS under the leadership of Julia Dumanian who become CEO of CHS in 2017. In that time, workers have seen their wages fall 16% behind inflation while senior management have enjoyed double digit percentage increases CHS staff levels have plummeted in recent years, down to roughly 200 from a high of over 500, impacting the quality and depth of services that Deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing Ontarians receive. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Ottawa Citizen
28-04-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
CUPE: Second Strike Under Julia Dumanian's Leadership Points to a Crisis at Canadian Hearing Services
Article content TORONTO — As of 9:00 am today, more than 200 workers at Canadian Hearing Services (CHS) will be on strike as picket lines go up in more than 15 cities across Ontario. Article content Article content This is the second strike at CHS under the leadership of Julia Dumanian; it comes after the agency only committed to two days of bargaining, called for a No Board before negotiations meaningfully began, and refused to extend the terms of the now expired collective agreement. Article content 'CHS forced this strike on workers. No unionized worker can accept working without the protection of a contract,' said Mara Waern, an employment consultant with over three decades of experience at CHS, and the president of CUPE 2073. 'But more than that, CHS forced this strike on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ontarians we support.' Article content Article content This small group of workers has an outsized impact, delivering critical programs for thousands of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ontarians. CUPE 2073 members work as counselors, audiologists, deaf/blind intervenors, interpreters, and in other important roles. Article content Even one day that CHS programs are shuttered will make life more difficult and less accessible for the people these workers have dedicated their lives to. Article content CUPE 2073 wrote to CHS in the days before the strike deadline, asking them to extend the terms of their expired collective agreement. When the clock runs out on a No Board window and job action becomes legal, the provisions of the contract are void – an employer can impose whatever changes they want. Extending the terms of a contract is a good faith measure that employers offer as they continue to bargain for a fair deal. Article content Instead, CHS ignored the local's request and sent a memo revoking previously approved vacation and changing the rules on sick days. Workers felt these moves presaged further attempts by CHS to strip them of their rights, and target members who have been outspoken: Article content 'CHS never wanted to bargain. Why else would they call for a No Board before we had a chance to negotiate? They wanted to impose their will on workers and we just couldn't risk that,' said Waern. 'They put us in this position. For years, they've eroded the services we offer and chipped away at our membership. But we know what we're worth, and we know how much our services mean to the people we support.' Article content Members will be picketing at 10 CHS locations across the province and at the offices of Progressive Conservative MPPs, as the Ford government has refused repeated calls to intervene and ensure the proper functioning of this agency. The CUPE 2073 bargaining team remains hopeful that a fair deal can be reached at their May 6 conciliation date. Article content Article content Article content Article content
National Post
28-04-2025
- Business
- National Post
CUPE: Second Strike Under Julia Dumanian's Leadership Points to a Crisis at Canadian Hearing Services
Article content TORONTO — As of 9:00 am today, more than 200 workers at Canadian Hearing Services (CHS) will be on strike as picket lines go up in more than 15 cities across Ontario. Article content Article content This is the second strike at CHS under the leadership of Julia Dumanian; it comes after the agency only committed to two days of bargaining, called for a No Board before negotiations meaningfully began, and refused to extend the terms of the now expired collective agreement. Article content 'CHS forced this strike on workers. No unionized worker can accept working without the protection of a contract,' said Mara Waern, an employment consultant with over three decades of experience at CHS, and the president of CUPE 2073. 'But more than that, CHS forced this strike on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ontarians we support.' Article content Article content This small group of workers has an outsized impact, delivering critical programs for thousands of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ontarians. CUPE 2073 members work as counselors, audiologists, deaf/blind intervenors, interpreters, and in other important roles. Article content Even one day that CHS programs are shuttered will make life more difficult and less accessible for the people these workers have dedicated their lives to. Article content CUPE 2073 wrote to CHS in the days before the strike deadline, asking them to extend the terms of their expired collective agreement. When the clock runs out on a No Board window and job action becomes legal, the provisions of the contract are void – an employer can impose whatever changes they want. Extending the terms of a contract is a good faith measure that employers offer as they continue to bargain for a fair deal. Article content Instead, CHS ignored the local's request and sent a memo revoking previously approved vacation and changing the rules on sick days. Workers felt these moves presaged further attempts by CHS to strip them of their rights, and target members who have been outspoken: Article content 'CHS never wanted to bargain. Why else would they call for a No Board before we had a chance to negotiate? They wanted to impose their will on workers and we just couldn't risk that,' said Waern. 'They put us in this position. For years, they've eroded the services we offer and chipped away at our membership. But we know what we're worth, and we know how much our services mean to the people we support.' Article content Members will be picketing at 10 CHS locations across the province and at the offices of Progressive Conservative MPPs, as the Ford government has refused repeated calls to intervene and ensure the proper functioning of this agency. The CUPE 2073 bargaining team remains hopeful that a fair deal can be reached at their May 6 conciliation date. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
