The former grocery store clerk turned President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) used her address to convention to call on CUPE members to get active in the fight for working people.

Bea Bruske told delegates that working Canadians are worried about their jobs, their bills and their kids’ futures, and that too many conservative politicians are trying to distract them with divisive issues.

“When the right blames newcomers or racialized people, they’re trying to keep us divided so we won’t notice the tax breaks, unfair treatment, and price hikes that enrich the top,” said Bruske.

CUPE National President Mark Hancock stood shoulder to shoulder the Federal NDP and the Canadian Labour Congress on Tuesday to demand the repeal of Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, a law that lets governments shut down strikes to silence workers and embolden employers.
 
CUPE members know what’s at stake. When 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants were ordered back to work this summer through Section 107, they stood strong, defied the government, and won.
 
It’s time to restore the power of collective bargaining and that means Section 107 must go.

In a world sliding towards authoritarianism, United States labour leader Lee Saunders offered CUPE delegates an impassioned vision, clear direction, and reason for hope. When democracy is under siege, the president of the 1.4 million member strong American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) declared, the answer lies not in despair but in organizing — together.  

Nadia Aristyl is a tireless advocate for racial justice, a strong union activist, and now an Ed Blackman Award winner.

Aristyl, member of CUPE 2000, was honoured with the award in recognition of her outstanding leadership in the fight for racial justice and a more inclusive labour movement.

Fighting racism builds solidarity, and today delegates heard how we’re strengthening our union with CUPE’s Anti-Racism Strategy.

“If we allow racism to exist in our workplace, our union, or our community, we will face our enemies divided and weakened,” said Debra Merrier, CUPE Diversity Vice President representing Indigenous workers.

Merrier and Aubrey Gonsalves, CUPE Diversity Vice President representing Black and racialized workers, shared CUPE’s progress towards the strategy’s 10 goals and outlined the work ahead.

CUPE's biannual Health and Safety Forum brought together activists and members to focus on building healthier, safer workplaces with a special emphasis on psychological health and mental well-being.  

The highlight of the forum was the launch of CUPE's new, comprehensive mental health toolkit, a resource designed to help locals address psychological health and safety on the job. The toolkit includes model bargaining language, strategies to reduce stigma, and practical tools for health and safety activists to tackle the root causes of workplace stress and other psychosocial hazards. 

The Liberal government’s proposed 15% budget cuts will mean longer hospital waits, lost jobs, and less support for families.

Add your name to demand the Liberals cancel these cuts — and invest in the public services Canadians count on.