About us

Executive

President: William Foster

Vice-President: Mike Bentley

Vice-President: Stephanie Moni

Secretary Treasurer: Carolyn Laffin

Recording Secretary: Katelyn Foster

Sergeant-At-Arms: Tiago Larajeiro

You can contact any member of the executive by emailing local.256.cupe@gmail.com

 

 

Committees

Here is a list of our active committees and their members. If you would like to contact anyone on the list, please e-mail local.256.cupe@gmail.com

If you would like to find out how to become apart of a committee, join us at our regular monthly membership meetings. Check out our calendar to find out when the next one is. We would love to have you!

 

 

History on Unions

Unions first came into act in 1872 when Jon A McDonald passed the Trade Unions Act. This act gave workers the legal right to associate in unions.Whether it is workers’ rights, working conditions, human rights or social justice, laws get changed if people stand together in solidarity. Today, unions legally fight for worker’s rights, for fair wages and for good jobs. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, also known as CUPE is Canada's largest union, with 700,000 members across the country. CUPE represents many different workers throughout the health care fields, emergency services, education sector, early learning and child care, municipalities, social services, libraries, utilities, transportations, airlines and more. CUPE has been around for more than 50 years.

If you would like to know more information about CUPE please visit:

 

Here are some things that unions have fought for and brought into Labour Law for everyone in private and public sectors.

  • The 5 day work week. Giving us the weekends to enjoy!
  • Ending child labour
  • 40 hour work week
  • 8 hour work days!
  • Unemployment benefits
  • Workers Compensation Laws
  • Employer-based health coverage
  • Family and medical leave act
  • The right to know, The right to refuse, and the Right to participate
  • Inclusive and equitable work forces

 

Equality statement

Union solidarity is based on the principle that union members are equal and deserve mutual respect at all levels. Any behaviour that creates conflict prevents us from working together to strengthen our union.

As unionists, mutual respect, cooperation and understanding are our goals. We should neither condone nor tolerate behaviour that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of any individual or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.

Discriminatory speech or conduct which is racist, sexist, transphobic or homophobic hurts and thereby divides us. So too, does discrimination on the basis of ability, age, class, religion, language and ethnic origin.

Sometimes discrimination takes the form of harassment. Harassment means using real or perceived power to abuse, devalue or humiliate. Harassment should not be treated as a joke. The uneasiness and resentment that it creates are not feelings that help us grow as a union.

Discrimination and harassment focus on characteristics that make us different; and they reduce our capacity to work together on shared concerns such as decent wages, safe working conditions, and justice in the workplace, society and in our union.

CUPE’s policies and practices must reflect our commitment to equality. Members, staff and elected officers must be mindful that all persons deserve dignity, equality and respect.