Edmonton On any given day we may encounter dozens of CUPE members as we go about our daily business, says CUPE Alberta president Bruce McLeod. And, as communities across Alberta celebrate national volunteer week, we are taking the opportunity to demonstrate the work CUPE members do in supporting our communities both in their daily jobs and in volunteer work, he said.
In virtually every community in this province, there is a CUPE member supporting the social and economic strength of our communities through their work, said McLeod.
But, just as significant as the work we do in delivering public services is the contribution CUPE locals make to their communities. CUPE locals support local sporting teams, donate union dues to homeless and emergency shelters, food banks, and clothing drives. And, our members work together in many political campaigns including local elections and raising public issues in an effort to support the maintenance of high quality public services in our communities, he said.
All of these contributions are a direct result of a CUPE local in your community, he added.
Asking the question, On any given day how many CUPE members do you meet? CUPE Alberta has placed advertisements in community newspapers across the province and a number of billboards in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray. The billboards will be seen from April 26 through to October.
While the advertisements support CUPE members at the provincial level, the focus of the campaign will take place in various communities through the activities of CUPE locals. CUPE local unions will be using the campaign materials for a variety of local initiatives ranging from fighting privatization of public services to food bank drives and sponsorship of local community events.
A list of CUPE supported charity and community work is attached.
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CUPE is Canada’s largest union with over half a million women and men who provide public services. In Alberta, CUPEs 26,000 members work in health care, municipalities, schools, colleges, universities, libraries, emergency medical services, social services and casinos. Visit our CUPE websites for more information cupealberta.ab.ca and www.cupe.ca.
For more information:
Pam Beattie, CUPE Communications
(780) 484-7644 (office)
(780) 288-1230 (cellular)
