Ottawa, Ont. – Over one thousand members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees are set to meet in Ottawa next week for CUPE’s first National Bargaining Conference. Held under the theme “Forward Thinking, Better Deals,” the event takes place at a time when the labour movement faces serious challenges.
New economic and political landscapes have created a tough new bargaining environment. Employers and governments are using unprecedented tactics to undermine the power of unions while insisting on drastic concessions and rollbacks. The very right to bargain collectively is under attack.
The conference is one of the many steps CUPE is taking to strengthen its bargaining power and solidify its membership.
In addition to the plenary sessions and workshops, the conference will feature a number of renowned speakers, including Chrystia Freeland, editor of Thomson Reuters Digital, who will share her views on the economy, as well as Paul Booth, from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and Rachida Azdouz, the Director of Centre for Studies and Training in Higher Education at the University of Montréal.
Paul Moist, CUPE national president, and Charles Fleury, national secretary-treasurer, will provide the opening and closing remarks respectively and will be on hand to respond to questions from media attendees at the event.
The conference agenda can be viewed online at cupe.ca/bargaining/conference.
WHAT: CUPE National Bargaining Conference
WHEN: Tuesday, February 5 – Friday, February 8, 2013
WHERE: Ottawa Convention Centre, 55 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa
Additional information:
Tria Donaldson
Senior Communications Officer
(613) 915-0763
tdonaldson@cupe.ca