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CUPE represents over 32,700 workers in the energy sector in Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec and in Federal Crown Corporations. They are employed as trades and maintenance workers, customer service representatives, accountants, administration assistants, billing and records agents, communications staff, drafters, programmer analysts, technologists, power line workers, technicians, clerks, skilled trades workers, atomic energy workers and call center workers.
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Sector profile: Energy
CUPE represents over 45,000 workers in the energy sector in Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, and Quebec. They are employed as trades and maintenance workers, customer service representatives, accountants, administration assistants, billing and record agents, communications staff, drafters, programmer analysts, technologists, power line workers, technicians, clerks, skilled trades workers, atomic energy workers and call centre workers.
Guide
Protecting our work from privatization: How to fight contracting out at the bargaining table
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is at the forefront of the fight against the privatization of public services and has been since our union was founded in 1963. The collective power of CUPE members is our best defence against privatization, and CUPE collective agreements are a powerful tool in that fight. When CUPE members organize to achieve, and strictly enforce, contract language that prevents or restricts our employers from contracting out work, we can protect public sector union jobs and public services. CUPE collective agreements are far more likely than other union contracts to have some type of protection against contracting out. CUPE locals regularly use their collective agreement language to stop privatization in its tracks.
Sectors of work
CUPE is Canada’s largest union, with over 800,000 members. It is also a very diverse union in terms of the sectors it represents. Our members work in eleven different sectors. Some sectors have over 150,000 members each, such as health care, education, and municipal services, while others have fewer members. However, our union relies on the strength of all its members, regardless of their sector or type of job. Learn more about each of these sectors and the specific issues facing each one.
Resources for bargaining committees
CUPE offers many tools to support locals during bargaining. They include CUPE National staff representatives, specialist staff support, the Collective Agreement Information System, bargaining-related workshops, regional office support, and materials for bargaining committees.
Fact sheet
Developing our energy sovereignty through public investment
The current political landscape has clearly demonstrated that Canada’s energy sovereignty from the United States is a key part of our economic independence.