Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario from across the province are taking part in World Pride events this week. Together with CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn, members will be participating in the Trans March on Friday, Dyke March on Saturday and will have a strong contingent and float in CUPE’s official colour – pink – at the Pride Parade on Sunday.
“We are proud of our long history of leadership in the labour movement on LGBTQ issues. Together with community activists, we’ve been part of the fight to make changes for equality that people from around the world are focusing on this week at World Pride,” said Fred Hahn, who is the first openly gay president of a major trade union in Canada.
CUPE pioneered the use of collective bargaining to advance equality and anti-harassment policies in the workplace. Members voted at a 1985 convention that their union’s policy would be to bargain such language into contracts.
In Ontario, CUPE was part of the fight for equal marriage and full spousal recognition. It brought forward the Rosenberg case, which led the Supreme Court to direct the federal government to re-write the definition of spouse in the Income Tax Act to recognize same-sex spouses.
CUPE Ontario also proudly supported member Martine Stonehouse in her landmark human rights case against the Ministry of Health, when it stopped coverage for gender re-assignment surgery. This important challenge ultimately led to the re-listing of this important health-care support.
On Sunday, CUPE National President Paul Moist and CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn will be joined by CUPE Ontario Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick, Diversity Vice-President, LGBTQ, Patrick Hannon, and CUPE members and allies from across Ontario.
CUPE is Ontario’s community union, with members providing the quality public services we all rely on, in every part of the province, every day. CUPE Ontario members are proud to work in social services, health care, municipalities, school boards and universities.
- Trans Pride Rally and March: Friday, June 27 at 7:00 p.m., Norman Jewison Park
- Dyke March: Saturday, June 28 at 2:00 p.m., Allan Gardens
- Pride Parade: Sunday, June 29 at 1:00 p.m., staging on Rosedale Valley Road
For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact:
Craig Saunders, CUPE Communications, 416-576-7316
csaunders@cupe.on.ca