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Nine out of 10 CUPE members say they are satisfied with their job, and most believe their work is valued by their communities, their employer and their coworkers.

These were among the key findings of a recent CUPE survey of its membership, the first poll of its kind in several years.

Keeping a promise made at the 2003 national convention, CUPE commissioned a telephone survey of a random sample of 2,425 members from all 10 provinces. This survey followed a series of 10 face-to-face discussion groups held in six major cities earlier this year.

National President Paul Moist presented the survey to delegates at the Winnipeg national convention in October.

The results will help us better understand members’ concerns and will allow us to improve how we meet their needs and choose our priorities,” said Moist.

Here are a few of the more interesting facts and figures:

Job satisfaction

An overwhelming majority of CUPE members (90 per cent) are satisfied with their job, including 47 per cent who say they are very satisfied.

Likewise, most of you feel your work is valued by the people you help, the public, your employer and, most of all, your coworkers.

CUPE services and campaigns

The services that matter most to members are protecting job security, negotiating good wages, benefits and pension and protecting health and safety at work.

Promoting quality public services, opposing contracting out and dealing with grievances were also rated as important.

More than two out of three of you feel it is extremely important for CUPE to promote equality, human rights and fair treatment for everyone.

CUPE’s performance

Encouragingly, almost seven out of 10 of you feel you are better off in CUPE. You said we do a good job protecting job security, promoting public services and fighting contracting out, delivering union education and negotiating good wages, benefits and pensions. Services that received the lowest marks include taking a strong stand on national issues, negotiating paid family leave, dealing with grievances and lobbying the government.

Privatization and contracting out

Almost 80 per cent of members are worried their job will be contracted out or privatized. The biggest concerns are pay cuts and that the quality of the services they provide will be compromised. A large majority is also concerned about fewer hours and increased workload.

Communications

When it comes to receiving information from CUPE, almost half of you said you prefer to receive your local’s newsletter at work. Forty per cent prefer the newsletter be sent to your home. Almost as many members say they want to receive e-mail, while others would prefer personal contact either with their shop steward or at a union meeting.

Almost everyone surveyed has access to the Internet, either at work, at home or both.

Almost half of the members who receive written information say they have seen or read Organize.

Workplace education

Almost 80 per cent of you believe it’s important for CUPE to negotiate workplace training to help you do your job more effectively or to get promoted. Almost two out of three members say their employer currently provides workplace training.

Who did the math?

CUPE commissioned Winnipeg-based pollsters Viewpoints Research. The margin of error for the total sample is more or less 2 per cent, 19 times out of 20.


Natasha Gauthier