Today and every day, CUPE celebrates women’s union activism.
CUPE women have always been at the forefront of the fight for gender justice. At the bargaining table, through political action, and on the picket lines, women are powerful leaders in our union. CUPE feminists have used collective power to fight for stronger public services, fair wages, employment equity, and better working conditions.
Yet, women are still far more likely to be subjected to violence and harassment at work, especially if they are also young, persons with disabilities, Black, Indigenous, or gender-diverse. CUPE is working to end gender-based violence in all its forms – at work, at home, and in our union.
As we fight for gender justice, we recognize that all struggles for human rights are interconnected. Solidarity is a powerful tool, and we unite with women across the globe demanding peace and a fairer world.
To achieve justice for all women, we must dismantle all forms of oppression that women face including racism, transphobia, ableism, homophobia, and colonialism.
This International Women’s Day, CUPE urges members to:
Take action:
- Take the pledge to build safer and more inclusive union spaces.
- Join Action4Canada’s campaign to write to your representative in support of access to universal contraception.
- Join Momentum’s Facts Over Fear campaign and learn more about how to stop the spreading of misinformation from the far right about trans youth and adults.
- Join the Canadian Labour Congress Rise Up! and Workers Together campaigns to express your personal connection to gender justice and your commitment to electing a pro-worker government.
- Take steps to implement CUPE’s Anti-Racism Strategy in your local.
Check out:
- CUPE’s Stop Workplace Sexual Violence guide and pamphlet to raise awareness, support survivors and challenge sexual violence.
- CUPE’s bargaining tools on harassment, domestic violence and other equity issues.
- CUPE’s violence prevention kit.
- The Disabled Women’s Network of Canada’s resources on violence.
- The Native Women’s Association of Canada’s Annual Scorecard on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two=Spirit, Transgender, and Gender-Diverse (MMIWG2SG+) People
- Oxfam Canada’s Feminist Scorecard 2024
Spread the word:
- Download or order free copies of CUPE’s International Women’s Day poster.
- Help us shine a light on early learning and child care, and improve working conditions in the sector. Order your colouring kit of petitions to call on the federal government to fund a national child care workforce strategy.
