CUPE's Anti-Racism Strategy
CUPE has a long and proud history of challenging racism. Delegates at CUPE’s 1999 National Convention adopted the CUPE Policy Statement on Workplace Racism, and since then our union has fought racism wherever we encountered it – at work and at the bargaining table, in our communities, and across the globe.
At our 2021 National Convention, CUPE members voted to continue this important work, by adopting a CUPE-wide Anti-Racism Strategy.
The strategy contains ten key goals and actions we will take to help us get there, from increasing representation to education to political lobbying.
Rooted in the knowledge and experiences heard during cross-country consultations with Black, Indigenous and racialized members, CUPE’s Anti-Racism Strategy is our plan to break down barriers and create a stronger, more inclusive union for the struggles ahead.
Collective agreement language to support members with temporary work permits
CUPE locals across the country represent members working under different temporary work permits. These permits include temporary foreign worker (TFW) permits, study permits and post-graduation work permits (PGWP).
This document is for CUPE bargaining teams and local executives. It will help you bargain strong collective agreements that meet the needs of members with temporary work permits.
Truth & reconciliation bargaining guide
CUPE is committed to ensuring locals have access to resources that support the union’s work on truth and reconciliation.
One of the ways CUPE locals can support reconciliation is by bargaining language supporting Indigenous workers into collective agreements. Our guide, Truth and reconciliation: CUPE taking action through collective bargaining, is for everyone who wants to put reconciliation into action at the bargaining table.
Bargaining beyond the binary: A negotiating guide for trans inclusion and gender diversity
Bargaining beyond the binary: A negotiating guide for trans inclusion and gender diversity features examples of trans inclusive language from CUPE collective agreements that negotiating teams can use to develop their own proposals.
CUPE local executives and bargaining teams don’t have to wait until a Two-Spirit, trans or non-binary worker comes out or is hired to bargain trans inclusive language. Even locals that don’t have any trans members (that they know of) should ensure protections and supports are in place now, before gender diverse workers come out or enter the workplace.
Current resources
Breaking barriers: CUPE’s human rights history
Virtual meetings accessibility checklist
Housing in a Time of Crisis: CUPE Policy Statement
Walking the talk: A practical guide to reconciliation for CUPE locals
CUPE adopts new environmental policy
This topic includes
Indigenous and First Nations people have faced systemic discrimination and oppression for decades. It is our collective responsibility to uphold and advance reconciliation in our workplaces and beyond.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are the pillars of building an inclusive workforce. Prioritizing representation is key to ensuring everyone has a voice at the table.
For too long, women have faced barriers to equal pay and fair treatment in the workplace. We are fighting to make wage gaps and gender-based harassment and discrimination things of the past.
Decades of violence and discrimination against members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community have made workplaces unsafe or unwelcoming for many. Actively dismantling prejudices is the only way to end discrimination for good.
Persons living with disabilities face challenges and barriers every day, everywhere. Establishing accessibility measures and supports in the workplace and beyond ensures everyone can work and live with respect and dignity.
Having a roof over your head should be considered a human right. But for too long, housing has been treated as a commodity. We must continue to fight to make housing affordable and accessible to all.
Climate change affects every single one of us—for some communities, the effects are even more devastating. Advancing environmental action and justice in legislation and in our everyday lives is the only way we can move forward without leaving anyone behind.
Literacy is a gateway to academic and career success—but too many people are not given the opportunity to enhance their essential skills. It’s time to start treating education as a right, not a privilege.
CUPE is deeply committed to international solidarity and the pursuit of global justice. Strengthening the global labour movement and building relationships with workers and community allies around the world is essential to our collective fight for human and labour rights, decent work, strong public services, justice and peace.
CUPE stands with migrant workers, including our own members, and community allies. Together, we’re working for justice and organizing to end precarious living and working conditions. Our union supports the call for permanent resident status for all migrants. No worker in Canada should have to live in fear because of temporary status. Migrant rights are labour rights.