News

“We can’t be in Gaza – but we can be here”: London rally echoes global march to rafah

LONDON, ONTARIO — “We can’t be in Gaza – but we can be here,” shouted members of the Canadian Palestinian Social Association (CPSA), a local community organization dedicated to celebrating Palestinian culture and raising awareness about the ongoing genocide committed by the Israeli occupation. The rally, held outside MP Peter Fragiskatos’ office, was one of many acts of international solidarity as thousands of activists across the globe mobilized for the Global March to Gaza. On June 12, around 60 people gathered at the rally, holding signs, keffiyehs, and Palestinian flags under the cloudy London sky. The event was co-organized by…

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Posters and signs at the CUPE 2073 strike line on Oxford St

“We’re falling behind”: Canadian Hearing Services workers strike for fair wages, job protections

For more than six weeks, over 200 Canadian Hearing Service (CHS) workers have been on strike across the province. Represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local (CUPE) 2073, the sign language interpreters, mental health counselors, audiologists, and other striking staff of CHS are hoping for more support from the public as they approach their sixth week on the lines. CHS is a nonprofit organization based predominantly in Ontario. The organization provides a plethora of services for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals across the country. Since Julia Dumanian became CEO of the company in 2015, service provisions in…

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Workers’ Compensation on first strike in history: wages, workload, and micromanagement primary concerns

Since May 22, over 200 workers have been on strike at the downtown London office on Fullarton Street for the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Represented by the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU) Local 1750, London workers are some of the over 3,600 employed by WSIB across Ontario. These workers are responsible for administering the employer insurance program for workers who are injured on the job.  “We are wanting a fair collective agreement. We are looking for increased wages, better workload management, less micromanagement of our workloads,” said Suzanne Flannery, Unit Coordinator for the London Office and head picket…

Read MoreWorkers’ Compensation on first strike in history: wages, workload, and micromanagement primary concerns

ACORN’s Healthy Homes Forum: perspectives on landlord licensing

On May 8, London ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) held a Healthy Homes Forum to talk about the idea of landlord licensing in the city. They invited people from all over the city by canvassing at bus-stops the week before, and attending the May Day celebration held in Victoria Park. Around 40-50 people gathered at the 380 Adelaide St. office where members of the ACORN team reviewed what landlord licensing is. ACORN spoke to how other cities are approaching landlord licensing, dispelled myths about the concept, and attendees shared the issues they face in their own rental…

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‘The system itself is flawed’: London community shows up to support sexual assault survivor 

Over 40 people joined together on Tuesday, May 13 outside of the Superior Court in London, Ont., to support survivor E.M. on her seventh day of cross-examination by defense attorneys in the sexual assault trial of five men. E.M. was 20 years old at the time of the reported sexual assaults. The trial began at the end of April this year — nearly seven years later. The five men, Michael MacLeod, Cal Foote, Dillon Dubé, Carter Hart, and Alex Formenton, were hockey players on the Canadian World Juniors hockey team. They were in London in 2018 to celebrate the team’s…

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London Community rallies together for May Day

On Sunday, more than 70 London workers and community members gathered in Victoria Park to celebrate May Day. The celebration included music, chants, and speeches from local organizations and union chapters. May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, celebrates the labour movement and the workers behind it. The origins of May Day trace back to 1886, following a massive general strike in the United States involving workers across the nation striking to demand an eight-hour work day. In Chicago, on the third day, police officers fired into a crowd of striking workers, which incited a rally at the city’s…

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Western community protest: demanding divestment, accountability, and policy changes

This Tuesday, March 18th, Western University students and faculty members gathered on concrete beach to protest the preceding night’s deadly raid in the Gaza Strip — a raid in which over 400 Palestinians were killed by Israeli strikes. This attack sparked global outrage as many — including local health officials in the Strip — recognize it as a violation of the current ceasefire (effective January 19th, this year). The rally was composed of students from the Western Divestment Coalition, members of Independent Jewish Voices, amongst students and faculty. The protestors had two demands. Fourth year Psych student and Palestine activist…

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“I wanted to share this moment with them”: Londoners gather in bittersweet celebration for long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza

On the frigid afternoon of Sunday, January 19th, people of all ages gathered in Victoria Park to share a glimpse of hope that came with the commencement of ceasefire in Gaza earlier that day after  470 relentless days of genocide.  Despite the biting cold, the long-awaited Gaza ceasefire announcement was the silver lining in the dark – “the bare minimum” as one speaker from  the Canadian Palestine Social Association (CPSA), who organized the event, said. The relief was welcomed but bittersweet. The brutal assault on Palestinians by Israeli forces has, to date, claimed the lives of approximately 46,707 people and…

Read More“I wanted to share this moment with them”: Londoners gather in bittersweet celebration for long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza