“CUPE Alberta is deeply concerned about the upcoming referendum and its possible implications for our members, particularly those who are racialized and/or newcomers to Alberta,” says CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal.
“In the coming weeks, we will be working to ensure our members understand what is at stake. We have launched a website https://NoToScapegoating.ca/ that provides information and resources to our locals and members, complete with a guide for members to bring with them when they go to vote.
“We will also produce a series of videos that will focus specifically on the immigration questions and their potential impact on CUPE members and their families,” Uppal added.
CUPE members are reminded that while the referendum is officially on October 19, they may also vote via a mailed-in special ballot. To vote in this way, avoiding lineups on referendum day, they must go to the Elections Alberta website (Request a Special Ballot - Elections Alberta) before September 25 to apply for their ballot online.
“Our goal is to give members clear, accessible information so they can make informed decisions and have conversations in their workplaces and communities,” says Uppal. “This referendum is about more than individual questions on ballots. It is about the kind of Alberta we want to build – one where workers are treated with dignity, public services are accessible to everyone, and politicians cannot divide working people based on where they were born.”