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CUPE members are facing bargaining challenges from coast to coast to coast, but our ability to share strategies and learn from each other will make us stronger and better prepared. During three jam-packed days we’ll examine the challenges ahead and determine steps we can all take to deliver new gains for our members.

View the conference workbook (agenda, maps, speakers bios and more).


Here’s some of the reasons why we’re excited about the National Bargaining Conference next week!

  • Enjoy some comedy with an edge
    We bring in performers to give us a slightly skewed take on labour. Christopher Hall, Quebec comedian and classically trained clarinetist, offers his take on the current political climate. The Debaters, Canada’s hottest comedians, go toe to toe on labour issues. Hosted by comedian Steve Patterson, the engaging format is part stand-up, part quiz show and part comedy competition with the live audience picking the winners.
      
  • Negotiating power: Pushing back the austerity agenda
    We’re talking shop in this session, as we look at bargaining models and examples of the challenges we face at the table. Whether it’s contracting out, government austerity agendas, the rise of precarious work, achieving effective equality language, or fighting attacks on wages and pensions, we’ll talk about it.

  • Temporary foreign workers and the rise of precarious work
    What can unions do to ensure better protections for the workers who too often go unseen and unheard? Join us for breakfast, as we explore the increasing exploitation of temporary foreign workers and the nature of precarious work.
      
  • Sector debriefs and provincial strategy sessions
    Think together with members from your sector. Work through what you heard in plenary to figure out what it means for workers like you and the work you do in your community. We’ll also bring together ideas from the plenaries and sector debriefs, so we can build strategies to take us forward in our locals, and in our provinces.
      
  • Your leaders, your voices: Asking – and answering – the tough questions
    National President Paul Moist and National Secretary-Treasurer Charles Fleury turn the floor over to you. Ask questions, raise concerns and share ideas on how we can fight smarter and make gains.
      
  • Anne Lagacé Dowson
    Anne Lagacé Dowson is an award-winning radio journalist, who was a longtime host of CBC Radio’s Radio Noon, a daily current affairs and phone-in program in Quebec. She has also hosted Home Run in Montreal, produced C’est la Vie and guest-hosted Cross Country Check-up and As It Happens. Anne does political commentary for CJAD 800, writes a blog for the Journal de Montréal, and participates in a weekly panel on Téléjournal with Céline Galipeau. She is president and director general of ENSEMBLE, an organization dedicated to preventing, informing and raising awareness about the dangers inherent to intolerance, prejudice, exclusion, racism and discrimination.
      
  • Chrystia Freeland
    Chrystia Freeland is the editor of Thomson Reuters Digital. Prior to this, she was U.S. managing editor of the Financial Times, deputy editor of the Financial Times in London, editor of the FT’s Weekend edition, editor of FT.com, U.K. News editor, Moscow bureau chief and Eastern Europe correspondent. From 1999 to 2001, she served as deputy editor of The Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper. Chrystia began her career working as a stringer in the Ukraine, writing for the FT, The Washington Post and The Economist.
      
  • Armine Yalnizyan
    Armine Yalnizyan is one of Canada’s leading progressive economists, committed to putting the “public” into public policy. She joined the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives as senior economist in 2008. Armine is a founding and regular contributor to the Globe and Mail’s online business feature, Economy Lab. She has a twice-weekly business column on CBC Radio’s number one morning show, Metro Morning, serving a million listeners in the Greater Toronto Area. Armine also punches above her weight every week on the Big Picture Panel, featured Thursdays on CBC TV’s Lang and O’Leary Exchange.
      
  • Rachida Azdouz
    Rachida Azdouz is a psychologist specializing in diversity management. Her specific expertise lies in identity strategies, the ethics of community and managing conflicts in values and rights. She joined the Université de Montréal in 1997 and has been the director of program evaluation, digital teaching and university pedagogy since 2010. A member of the Conseil des relations interculturelles (intercultural relations council) for the past four years and of the Conseil supérieur de l’éducation (superior council for education) for nine years, Rachida is a regular media commentator on current events and has published a number of articles on reconciling peaceful coexistence and social unity.
      
  • Meet and mingle with Thomas Mulcair
    Meet the Leader of the official Opposition and Canada’s New Democratic Party during our social event on Wednesday, February 6.

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