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The National Young Workers Group are activists under 30 years of age who have an overall goal of developing and maintaining an active, educated young worker membership. This includes developing and maintaining education for young workers, communication networks, as well as building links with other sectors within the labour movement.

Contact the committee.

Terms of Reference

 Purpose:

  1. The role of the National Young Workers’ Working Group (YWG) is to advise the National Executive Board (NEB) on how it can:
    • Educate leaders on the importance of youth activism in the union
    • Involve young members in the union
    • Continue to develop negotiable contract language that is favorable to young workers
    • Mentor and support young members
    • Organize and maintain young worker groups
    • Be more inclusive of young members
  2. Develop active young worker groups, committees, and/or structures in each province.
  3. Promote young worker workshops and assist to ensure workshops are offered in every region.
  4. Update, maintain, and promote tools for young workers
  5. Make links with other groups and labour bodies to maximize our effectiveness.
  6. Maintain an active, educated young worker membership through national, provincial and local initiatives.
  7. Encourage locals to assist young workers in participating at all levels of the Union

 Composition:

The YWG is composed of CUPE members from across the country appointed by the National President. Ideally, the group would have representation from every province. The National President may also choose to appoint members representing organizations such as: HEU or the Airline division etc.

Members of the YWG are young members of CUPE. The definition of young is members 30 and under. However, where there are no members under 30 available, the age limit could exceed 30.

Appointments to the YWG will be made with consideration to sectoral and equity representation to ensure the group is diverse and representative of the members. The National President will appoint a liaison from the NEB to act as an advisor between the NEB and YWG.

One or more staff advisors will be appointed to assist the group with its work.

 Responsibilities/Obligations

Members of the National Young Workers’ Group are responsible for:

  • coming to meetings prepared to do the work of the group
  • reporting to the group on activities or relevant issues from their region
  • reporting back the work of the YWG to all provincial groups
  • making links between the work of the YWG and provincial work
  • establishing and maintaining a relationship with other young worker movements in their region (student groups etc.)
  • ensuring that young member educationals are offered in each region on an ongoing basis with the help of Union Development
  • connecting with and building a relationship with the Union Development department
  • developing a functioning and viable young worker committee, group, and/or structure in each region
  • recruiting and supporting other young members
  • communicating with the national group between meetings
  • identifying and sharing areas of concern for young workers in their province

The co-chairs of the National Young Workers’ Group are responsible for:

  • working with the staff advisor to plan meetings
  • working with staff to prepare reports
  • keeping the YWG on track at (and between) meetings
  • keeping the YWG members motivated
  • all the other responsibilities and obligations of a YWG member

NEB Liaison to the YWG is responsible for:

  • keeping the YWG informed of developments in the union and providing information from the NEB that will assist the YWG in carrying out its work
  • reporting to the NEB on the meetings and activities of the YWG
  • conveying, and getting responses from the NEB on the YWG’s advice and recommendations
  • Working on a day-to-day basis to move the YWG’s recommendations and decisions forward throughout the union
  • Providing advice to the YWG and sharing expertise on young worker issues.

The staff advisors assigned to the YWG are responsible for:

  • facilitating communication among YWG members between meetings of the YWG
  • working on a day-to-day basis to move the YWG’s recommendations and decisions forward throughout the union
  • assisting the YWG, particularly the Chairs of the YWG, in developing the agenda for each meeting and ensuring that YWG members have documentation in advance of the meeting
  • providing advice to the YWG and sharing expertise on young worker issues
  • reporting to the staff director(s) on YWG meetings and the YWG’s advice, recommendations and work plan.

How we operate:

  • meet two times per year
  • have conference calls when necessary
  • operate in two official languages
  • take direction from the NEB
  • decisions made by consensus, where possible.