Bargaining Equality is about changing the workplace to better suit workers. It’s about meeting the needs of more and more CUPE members who are seeking equality on the job. It’s about making our workplaces reflect the communities we live in.

What do child care, duty to accommodate, health and safety, discrimination, parental leave, pensions, pay equity and violence have to do with one another? All these issues and more are covered in the Bargaining Equality binder.

Who is Bargaining Equality for?

  • Part-time workers
  • Workers in need of good pensions
  • Parents wanting more time for family responsibilities
  • Women overcoming wage discrimination
  • Members with disabilities marginalized in their workplaces
  • Workers who are victims of bullying and abusive behaviour 
  • Workers of colour fighting harassment
  • Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members wanting an end to workplace violence
  • Equality-seeking members or groups wanting fair treatment and a better working environment
  • Members who want a safe and healthy workplace that’s free from discrimination
  • CUPE locals that want to make their workplaces better for all their members

Getting equality to the table and winning it

Racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism and other ‘isms’ are a fact of life in most CUPE members’ workplaces. So are wage discrimination, harassment, unsafe working conditions, and violence - just a few of the problems facing many CUPE members.

The Bargaining Equality binder shows CUPE locals how to take these issues to the bargaining table and negotiate collective agreements that meet their equality goals. It shows how to improve on existing legislation and ensure that members’ rights are protected. 

The binder is full of information on the issues including:

  • Checklists to determine the extent of the problems in any workplace
  • Examples of contract language from CUPE locals
  • Tips for planning, mobilizing members and getting the employer onside
  • Way to finding additional resources

CUPE members don’t need to wait for legislation. Locals can bargain concrete steps in their collective agreements to improve their workplaces. 

Download each section of the Bargaining Equality binder (listed below).