CUPE’s National President Mark Hancock brought some northern perspective to the national convention of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFSCME, this week. Hancock was invited by AFSCME National President Lee Saunders to attend along with Minnesota Governor and VP candidate Tim Walz, as well as Daniel Bertossa, secretary-general of Public Services International.
AFSCME represents roughly 1.4 million front-line public service workers across the United States, who work in many of the same fields as CUPE members.
Hancock attended AFSCME’s International Executive Board meeting, where leaders discussed how to unite members in divisive times, how to build and maintain trust, and to address the issues that are important to our members, with empathy and solidarity.
They also discussed how international solidarity and relationships across borders with PSI affiliates give us tools to increase our own bargaining power, and strengthen worker power around the globe.
On Monday, the opening day of AFSCME convention, Hancock addressed delegates as part of an international panel on environmental issues, and working collaboratively across borders. Hancock focused his remarks on why protecting the environment can’t be left to the private sector.
He also emphasized that while public services are about people over profit, they’re also about the environment over profit. Hancock cited CUPE’s “Water is life” as an example of how CUPE is defending a basic human right for Indigenous communities, while promoting public services, protecting good jobs, and protecting the environment.