The New Year brings many challenges for CUPE members across the country. The labour movement has successfully fought off many attacks on our rights as workers, and we still have much to do in 2016 to achieve progressive change for workers, our families and our communities.
It was an honour to be elected your National President at the 2015 National Convention in Vancouver, and in the New Year I’m looking forward to working with CUPE members on building our strength as a union.
In 2016 we will put organizing front and centre, focusing first on increasing the protection for precarious workers, and continuing our fight against contracting out and the privatization of the public services our members deliver.
This work will depend on strong locals. By engaging our members, and providing locals with the resources they need at the bargaining table, CUPE will continue to back up our members in the fight for decent wages, better benefits, and stronger pensions.
2016 will also be CUPE’s Year of Health and Safety. We will renew our attention to achieving safer workplaces – for our members, and all workers in Canada and around the world, particularly for those in the most precarious and vulnerable jobs.
The new federal Liberal government has made many promises - such as rolling back the Conservatives’ regressive attacks on workers rights, and on moving forward with real action on climate change, just to name a few. In 2016 we are committed to standing with our allies to ensure the Liberals live up to their promises.
I wish you and your family all the best in the New Year, and hope you will join me in renewing our commitment to building workers’ power across the country and around the world. Together we will make CUPE an even stronger and louder voice for workers everywhere.
Mark Hancock
