On August 1, 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act came into effect after being passed by the British Parliament. The Act began the legal abolition of slavery that impacted people of African descent who were enslaved in British colonies, including Canada. In 2021, Members of the Canadian Parliament voted unanimously to officially recognize August 1st as Emancipation Day in Canada. CUPE…
Read more
Disability Pride Month is a time to highlight and celebrate the contributions people with disabilities make to our Union. Since not all disabilities are visible, we encourage everyone to use this month as an opportunity to educate yourself on ableism and how to eliminate it from our workplaces.
Read more
On June 21, for National Indigenous Peoples Day, we recognize and celebrate the history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Canada. Were you aware that CUPE 951 successfully bargained to include language (24.23) that allows Indigenous employees to take paid leave on National Indigenous People’s Day? If you have any questions, reach out to any…
Read moreDespite the acronym, this day is not about small folk who live in the Shire; May 17th is the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. The date of May 17 was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. It is a global campaign aimed at raising awareness about…
Read moreDear Friends, At our CUPE BC Convention 2022, delegates passed a resolution encouraging locals and district councils to transition from using the term “Brothers/Sisters” to more gender-inclusive terms including, but not limited to, “fellow-workers, siblings, kin, members, unionists, folk, friends or cousins.” The labour movement’s practice of calling one another “sister” or “brother” clashes with a growing consciousness about the…
Read more