Supervisors, equipment and security workers at OC Transpo, Ottawa’s public transit service, have voted 77 per cent in favour of joining CUPE. The workers were members of Local 5 of the Independent Canadian Transit Union. They now form Local 5500 which will have 107 members.
Bob Manion, the local president and former National Vice-president of ICTU, said he is looking forward to the stability and expertise of CUPE. “I think we’re going to belong to a union that is strong right across Canada. CUPE’s experience and professionalism will benefit our members,” he said.
National President Judy Darcy welcomed CUPE’s newest members saying workers at one of Canada’s largest public transit services are a positive addition to the union. “They’ll bring a valuable point of view and experience that will certainly benefit the other 7,000 transit workers already calling CUPE home. They’ll feel right at home in CUPE too, with our shared belief in autonomy and democracy.”