CUPE communicators – both staff and membership – are the recipients of twelve Canadian Association of Labour Media awards.
The competition is part of the organization’s annual conference, which features two days of communications skills workshops for union communicators.
External judges choose from hundreds of entries, with different categories for large and small locals, as well as staff-produced newsletters, videos, leaflets and web sites.
CUPE’s winners are as follows:
- CUPE 7000 won Excellence in writing, and Best photo for locals up to 500 members for their newsletter The Telegraph.
CUPE National won:
- Best overall staff-produced publication for Organize
- the Breaking Barriers Award for “Thinking Equality,” our guide to inclusive writing and organizing
- Best flyer or brochure produced by staff for “In The Closet?” a leaflet on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activism in CUPE
- Best illustration produced by staff for “Keep PG Strong,” the logo for BC’s “Strong Communities” campaign
CUPE BC won:
- Best cartoon produced by staff – “A New Error for BC” – used in a leaflet criticizing the Campbell government’s anti-worker agenda
- Best moving billboard produced by staff – “Tolerance” – a button and postcard designed to combat anti-Arab racism in the aftermath of 9-11
HEU won awards for:
- Best public advocacy audio-visual production for “Health care or Tax Cuts”
- Best poster produced by staff for “Modernize Medicare”
- Excellence in layout and design for staff-produced newsletters for The Guardian
CALM also paid tribute to former CUPE communicator Dennis McGann who died last year. The organization created a bursary in his name, co-sponsored by CUPE BC, CUPE National, Now Communications, and the Columbia Foundation. CALM also named its Stroke of Genius Award after McGann.
For more information about CALM, visit calm.ca