The CUPE Cast

Brianna and Krista continue their journey in the Niagara region and sit down with the outgoing councillor Greg Miller (Ward 1, Merritton). After two terms in office, Councillor Miller decided not to run for re-election during the 2026 municipal elections. Outgoing Councillor Miller reflects on his two terms in office and shares his perspective on issues affecting the Niagara region, including regional governance, political action, and public services. This is part two of a two-part series.Show notesCUPE Ontario | CUPE Cast episode 50 -  https://open.spotify.com/episode/75AsDfJCFJmtXd0mKWZdV6?si=3144870a6e054bf9CUPE Ontario | CUPE Ontario Municipal Workers - https://cupe.on.ca/sectors/municipal/CUPE Ontario | CUPE Votes - https://cupevotes.ca/CUPE National | District Councils - https://cupe.ca/content/cupe-district-councilsOntario Federation of Labour | Labour Councils - https://ofl.ca/about/labourcouncils/

We made it to the 50th episode of CUPE Cast, and how are we celebrating? Spreading the word about the municipal elections. The 2026 Municipal elections are only a few weeks away. With hundreds of thousands of people across the province getting ready to vote, we want to tell you what is at stake from the perspective of municipal workers. In the 50th episode of CUPE Cast, Brianna and Krista are joined by Brenda Cervantes (CUPE Local 1287) and Dave Barnett (CUPE Local 911), who share their thoughts on the threats and impacts privatization and unsustainable funding have on their workplaces, their members, and ultimately the residents they serve. We also get to touch on how they are planning to mobilize their members to get involve and vote in the upcoming municipal elections. This is part one of a two-part series. Help support campaigns backed by CUPE Locals 1287 and 911 by sharing the following petitions. CUPE 911 ( You Can't Wait Neither Can We) - https://www.fixniagaraems.ca/petition/CUPE Local 1287 (Keep Water Public) - https://keepwaterpublic.ca/CUPE 1287 | CUPE 1287 News - https://cupe1287.com/news/CUPE 911 | You Can't Wait Neither Can We - https://www.fixniagaraems.ca/ CUPE National | District Councils - https://cupe.ca/content/cupe-district-councils CUPE Ontario | CUPE Ontario Municipal Workers - https://cupe.on.ca/sectors/municipal/CUPE Ontario | Keep Water Public - https://keepwaterpublic.ca/ CUPE Ontario | We Can’t Wait - https://911wecantwait.ca/Ontario Federation of Labour | Labour Councils - https://ofl.ca/about/labourcouncils/

Migrant workers are members of our communities and play a role in keeping the services we use running. Recent changes to Bill C-12 could affect the livelihoods of thousands of workers and their families. In this episode of CUPE Cast, Brianna and Krista interview Jaela and fellow co-host Katherine, who share their experiences participating in the International Migrants Alliance’s Canada Labour Tour to the Philippines and highlight some of the challenges Filipino workers face in the Philippines and in Canada.ShownotesIMA Canada | International Migrants Alliance - Canada Chapter - https://www.wearemigrants.net/ima/tag/IMA+CanadaCUPE National | Migrant rights - https://cupe.ca/migrant-rightsCUPE National | Take action: status, not scapegoating, for migrant workers (petition) - https://cupe.ca/take-action-status-not-scapegoating-migrant-workers

The Ontario government introduced Bill 60, the “Fighting Delays. Building Fast Act,” in October 2025. With this omnibus bill bulldozing its way through Queen’s Park, it has quickly brought in reforms that will affect tenants’ rights and new opportunities to privatize our public water.On this episode, you’ll hear from tenant organizer An and CUPE Local 1785 wastewater worker James Marangon. Join the podcast to hear us talk about Bill 60, the changes it brings and its impacts on tenants and workers across the province. Show notes:Episode correction: There is an incorrect reference to the implementation of the transition to a Water Wastewater Corporation by Summer/Fall of 2027. Bill 60 proposed a transition date for Peel Water Wastewater services of January 1, 2029; however, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has the power to change that date by regulation.Housing segment starts at 20:22Water segment starts at 1:01:18Association of Municipalities of Ontario (October 28, 2025) | Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 - https://www.amo.on.ca/policy/land-use-planning-resources-and-climate-change/bill-60-fighting-delays-building-faster-act Association of Municipalities of Ontario (November 25, 2025) | Advocacy on Bill 60, Data Standards, Blue Box and Conservation Authority Consolidation - https://www.amo.on.ca/policy/land-use-planning-resources-and-climate-change/advocacy-bill-60-data-standards-blue-box-and Brampton Guardian (December 13, 2025) | Brampton councillors angry over Ontario ‘Fighting Delays, Building Faster’ bill- https://www.bramptonguardian.com/news/council/brampton-angry-over-bill-60/article_7073b85e-195b-57fb-a344-9175d5c80510.html CBC News (November 12, 2025) | Toronto council votes to oppose Bill 60, saying it could increase evictions, weaken tenant rights - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-council-votes-oppose-ford-government-bill-60-9.6976288 CUPE Ontario (December 15, 2025) | Bill 60 Webinar: Municipal Service Corporations & The Future of Public Water - https://youtu.be/_q4xWXTPeYo?si=ry3PHLMQulxld5Dl CUPE Ontario (November 25, 2025) | Ontario water at risk as government rushes privatization and deregulation with Bill 60 - https://cupe.ca/ontario-water-risk-government-rushes-privatization-and-deregulation-bill-60CUPE Ontario (November 18, 2025 | Keep Water Public coalition: Conservative government’s Bill 60 turns water into a business and threatens public health - https://cupe.on.ca/keep-water-public-coalition-conservative-governments-bill-60-turns-water-into-a-business-and-threatens-public-health/ CUPE Ontario | Keep Water Public - https://keepwaterpublic.ca/ York South-Weston Tenant Union - https://www.tenantunion.ca/ Youth South-Weston Tenant Union email - [email protected] Youth South-Weston Tenant Union Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yswtenantunion/

CUPE Cast is back! In this episode, Brianna welcomes the two new co-hosts to the podcast: Katherine Grzejszczak and Krista Laing. Plus, Brianna, Katherine and Krista discuss the OMERS governance review. As the Ford Government calls for a review of OMERS, CUPE Ontario has launched the “Save our OMERS” campaign to spread its awareness about the review and highlight why CUPE members should have their say about what happens to the management of their pensions.CUPE Ontario’s President Fred Hahn and researcher and professor Kevin Skerrett join the CUPE Cast co-hosts to share their insights on this important issue.Show notesCUPE Ontario | Save our OMERS - https://cupe.on.ca/saveouromers/CUPE Ontario | 2025 OMERS Governance Review Submission (July 18, 2025) - https://cupe.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/CUPE-Submissions-OMERS-Governance.pdf CUPE Ontario |  OMERS Webinar (June 5, 2025) - https://youtu.be/PtDKGzx7oo4?si=JjdsZp-blR2QWmLu Spring Magazine | Doug Ford and OMERS executives side step pensioners (August 28, 2025) - https://springmag.ca/doug-ford-and-omers-executives-side-step-pensioners