CUPEs literacy project is moving full speed ahead. In April, we received notice that the federal government will fund our workplace literacy project with close to $90,000. The funding will pay for a literacy coordinator to work with locals in delivering workplace literacy programs.
A new Organizing the Organized workshop for Aboriginal members was delivered by Union Development to 25 Aboriginal members in May in Terrace, B.C. The workshop provided a place for First Nations CUPE members to gather and discuss the barriers to full participation in the union. The workshop resulted in action plans for training and mobilizing more First Nations members in B.C. It also provided a valuable experience to draw on in developing initiatives elsewhere in CUPE.
In May, representatives of Compensation Board employees from across the country represented by CUPE, NUPGE and CEU met in Toronto for a weekend conference. The meeting was initiated by CUPE and provided a forum for workers in this sector to discuss common issues such as: workload, case management and privatization. The forum was well received by all. It was agreed to continue to develop common goals and strategies, to work to coordinate bargaining on selected issues such as workload, and to hold other such meetings in the future.