During CUPE Ontario Convention, the delegates from CUPE 1281 worked to bring forward an emergency resolution against the Canadian government’s plan to increase reliance on prison labour. Due to the fact that no discussion was allowed on the motion, the delegates wanted to share the following with CUPE 1281 members.

Statement from the delegates

We wanted to take a moment to share the reasoning behind our resolution. The question was called after only one delegate had spoken, and with quorum nearly lost, we had to move quickly. Fortunately, our comrades supported the motion, and the resolution passed! That said, all of us at 1281 want to emphasize how vital it is to allow space for voices on the floor. Time and again, we saw debate end prematurely—often after just one speaker—while other members waited in line to contribute. Hearing from folks across different sectors enriches the conversation and strengthens our collective decision-making. Let’s keep making room for those voices!

Text of the resolution

CUPE ON will:

• Submit a resolution to the 2025 CUPE National Convention condemning coercive prison labour without full labour rights.
• Publicly condemn the use of prison labour, specifically CORCAN’s Wildfire Safety Program, by any Canadian government for climate emergencies.
• Work in collaboration with CUPE National to lobby federal and provincial governments to cease these programs and instead invest in well-funded, publicly delivered emergency services staffed by workers will full labour rights and fair wages.
• Educate members and the public on the exploitative nature of prison labour and advocate for “real climate solutions” prioritizing public safety and worker dignity.
• Work with prisoner advocacy groups to ensure incarcerated individuals are not exploited and have access to programs respecting their rights.

Because:

• On May 23rd, 2025, the Canadian government announced the expansion of using prison labour to address climate disasters like wildfires, as seen with CORCAN’s Wildfire Safety Program, into Ontario. This follows an exploitative model which does not protect public safety. Prisoners deserve full labour rights and Ontarian’s deserve real climate responses.
• This practise undermines public safety by relying on a vulnerable workforce denied full labour rights. Offering “potential for paid employment” post-release does not negate the coercive nature of prison labour.

Resolution Rationale (written by Ashlee V.)

43 years ago, my mum responded to an ad in a newspaper in London, England for a job to work at a Community-Based Residential Facility, also known as a halfway-house. Everyday for over two decades she worked at this facility and watched the individuals that resided there leave for work in the morning and return in the evening. Over her back-to-back doubles and overnight shifts, she heard their stories… and quickly became aware of how poorly most, if not all, were being treated at their workplaces. They did not have the same rights as the people they worked with, despite the fact that they had been released and were working the same jobs, with the same roles and duties.

Over forty years later… to read up on what’s happening now with CORCAN’s Wildfire Safety Program is unacceptable. Three minutes is not enough time to get into all of the issues with CORCAN and their history of introducing these work programs that are filled with massive holes. To put aside the program for a second – it has also been found that some Indigenous women have faced uneven access to these correctional programs including CORCAN’s training, and there have also been instances of CORCAN staff overriding security classification tools, which then impact how these programs are delivered.

These practices are then disguised between weak incentives and paired with empty promises like: ‘potentials for paid employment… or community volunteering where they may be called upon to help.’ I think we can all see right through this. But what it comes down to is… the basic rights of these individuals in these vulnerable positions have been entirely stripped away. There is absolutely no consideration for their safety, let alone it being a priority, and of course – extremely unfair wages. Unsurprisingly, this is for the benefit of the government and CORCAN’s program that lacks (as usual) the appropriate investment it requires. Fortunately, unlike my mum, we all stand here in a position where we can advocate for change and educate our members on the continued use of prison labour without appropriate labour rights. To my fellow comrades in this room, I ask that you please stand in favour of this resolution.

“A worker is a worker is a worker.”