The Safer Union Spaces Office (SUSO) was opened by the CUPE National Executive Board (NEB) in September 2024, to offer confidential aid to women and gender diverse members facing harassment or violence in union spaces. The creation of the SUSO was possible through the advocacy of the Safer Union Spaces Working Group.
At its inception, the NEB first established it as the Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment Prevention and Support Office with the intention of eventually expanding the scope to include other forms of harassment and discrimination. In December 2024, the newly appointed Director recommended that the NEB broaden the scope of the office to respond to cases of harassment, discrimination, gender-based violence, and complex conflicts. At this time, the office’s mandate was expanded.
Safer Union Spaces Working Group
In March 2021, the NEB created the Safe Union Spaces Working Group to address serious and ongoing issues of sexual and gender-based violence and other forms of harassment and discrimination in our union spaces.
The working group hired a consulting firm to conduct research on best practices for preventing and responding to violence and harassment. They reviewed all of CUPE’s policies and programs and trainings related to violence, harassment and discrimination. They conducted a broad membership survey, and held focus groups and listening sessions with CUPE members across the country.
What they found :
A survey of more than 4,500 CUPE members showed that large numbers of members had experienced harassment or discrimination in CUPE spaces. Many members said they felt uncomfortable or were afraid of what might happen if they reported their experiences. Many of those who did report felt disrespected or were unhappy with the outcome of their report.
Members also told us that the complaint process was confusing, difficult to use and not supportive.
Building on the past
The Safer Union Spaces Office builds on a historical commitment at CUPE to create a union that is safe and welcoming for all members.
Previous efforts to build a more inclusive union include a 1991 thinktank that brought together elected leadership, staff and members of the National Women’s Committee to develop some solutions to the issue of member to member harassment, and a National Woman’s Task Force, established in 2005, that travelled across the country to hear from members.
CUPE’s Equality Statement
CUPE’s Equality Statement is enshrined in the CUPE Constitution. It is read at the start of every CUPE event including general membership meetings, conventions, conferences, schools, workshops and more. It sets out expectations for how union members will conduct themselves. The statement was created on the recommendation of a 1991 CUPE think tank.
CUPE’s Code of Conduct
CUPE’s Code of Conduct sets out expectations for behaviour at national union conventions, schools, conferences, and meetings and outlines the process for handing unacceptable behaviour. It was adopted by the National Executive Board in 2010, after the National Women’s Task Force made the recommendation in their report to the 2007 National Convention.