Registration now open: 2025 Atlantic Weeklong School at The Wilds!

Registration for the 2025 Atlantic Weeklong School at The Wilds is now open! The Atlantic Weeklong School is an excellent opportunity for CUPE members in Nova Scotia or Newfoundland & Labrador to connect and receive training. We don’t want to risk anything we’re fighting for!

Given the political climate, and for that reason and many others, this semester the CUPE Weeklong School is poised to tackle:

STREAM 1 – USING OUR POWER AT ELECTION TIME (AND BEYOND): POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT TRAINING *NEW*
Here we will discuss our deep concerns about our democracy and how we can resist passivity by shoring up our base. You will learn some basic economic concepts about how the economy works, and how to challenge everyday assumptions about economics to support demands for a government and an economy that is inclusive, works for workers, and leaves no one behind.

STREAM 2 – WORKING IN A HEALTHY AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT
Ensuring we work in a safe and healthy environment, with courses from the Health & Safety Series such as: Law & Orders, Violence Prevention, Workload and Overwork.

STREAM 3 – STRENGTHENING THE LABOUR MOVEMENT: INSIDE AND OUT
How we strengthen our internal solidarity, with courses from the Steward Learning Series, for instance: Ally Skills, Mobilizing and Duty of Fair Representation.

Download the brochure to share with your local here. Download a printable registration form here.

SCENT-FREE: Everyone in attendance is asked to refrain from using scented products while attending our workshops and meetings.

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION: If you wish to do so, WE Travel is available to manage your flight bookings. Please contact them directly at flights.vancouver@weuniontravel.ca or via phone at 1-833-778-9669. Accommodations will be assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. There are double and single occupancy hotel rooms as well as a limited number of 1-bedroom Villas
available. NOTE: ACCOMMODATIONS MUST BE BOOKED THROUGH W.E. TRAVEL USING THIS LINK: wetravel.eventsair.com/cupe/atlantic-weeklong-school-jun-2025

MEALS: Please note on the registration form any dietary restrictions you require. All meals will be provided at The Wilds and are covered by your registration fee.

GENERAL INFORMATION: All participants are expected to attend the Sunday welcoming and Thursday banquet. We suggest that participants arrive on Sunday, June 22, between 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. On-site registration will take place on Sunday from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, and the welcome reception dinner will be from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm.

CUPE Atlantic Political Education Webinar on the American Tariff War with Canada

Join us on March 19th at 7pm (in NL) and 6:30pm (in Nova Scotia) for a CUPE Atlantic Political Education Webinar on the American Tariff War with Canada.

We’ll be discussing recent events and what Labour’s response should be to this threat to Canada’s Economy and Sovereignty. Sister Jessica McCormick, the President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour will join CUPE’s

Political Action Coordinator Govind Rao.  Some of the questions we’ll address:

  • Why is this happening?
  • What will it mean for wages, jobs, and Canada’s future?
  • What is the Labour Movement’s strategy for defeating this threat?

Use this link to join the webinar on March 19th via Zoom: https://bit.ly/41JLWAE

Brought to you by CUPE NL, CUPE NS and CUPE Votes

CUPE NL in Montréal!

CUPE Newfoundland & Labrador delegates had a great week in Montréal at the CUPE National Young Workers and Building Strong Locals conferences! Delagates attended skills building sessions, panels and affirmed the Montréal Declaration.

Sign up for email updates (➡️ on a desktop computer or ⬇️ on mobile) to learn more about CUPE National and CUPE Newfoundland & Labrador events!

Announcing our 51st Annual Convention!

CUPE NL invites all locals to join them at the Mount Peyton Conference Centre on May 5th-8th, 2025 for their 51st annual convention.

Registration will be held on Sunday, May 4th at 4:00 p.m. at the Mount Peyton. Locals are requested to make their own reservations, but a block of rooms, named “CUPE,” will be held for delegates at a rate of $139.00 plus taxes per night.

To send delegates, locals must have their per capita to CUPE National and CUPE NL up to and including April 2025.

For more information, please see the full Convention Call available for download here.

Black History Month: February 1 to 28, 2025

Black History should be recognized 365 days a year and not limited to a single month.

Black History acknowledgement is also a time for all people in Canada to reflect and educate ourselves on the history of Black enslavement and the ongoing discrimination and criminalization of people of African descent, and to remember that anti-Black racism still exists.

Every year CUPE honours a Black ancestor, or someone who is making history today. This year we’re honouring Marjorie Villefranche, Executive Director of Maison d’Haïti in Montreal.

Marjorie has spent more than 40 years empowering immigrants to fully participate in their community. She has made her mark as a feminist, anti-racist activist fighting discrimination and all forms of exclusion.

Canadian society has seen progress over the decades, but people of African descent in Canada still experience differential treatment. Black, racialized and Indigenous community members are far more likely to be the hardest hit by the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic deprivation. This, combined with the ongoing crisis of over-policing, has shone a spotlight on how much remains to be done.

CUPE’s Anti-Racism Strategy identifies actions to challenge systemic racism in our workplaces, union and communities. It acknowledges that our union and locals must work towards meaningful change for Black, Indigenous and racialized members, including those with intersecting identities.

Our union is committed to fighting racism and hatred in all forms. We encourage members not to be neutral when witnessing racism in any form. Instead, commit to not looking the other way and stand up for what is right.

For resources that can help increase awareness, understand and create change, head to: cupe.ca/black-history-month

Education: Election Campaign Workshops for CUPE NL members

Attention CUPE members! As we prepare for our voices to be heard loud and clear in the upcoming provincial and federal elections, we encourage you to participate in the below election campaign workshops, starting next week!

  • Next Tuesday, February 4th from 10AM to 4PM in Stephenville
  • Next Thursday, February 6th from 10AM to 5PM in St. John’s
  • Saturday, February 8th from 8AM to 5PM in St. John’s (run by the CLC, register for this one here)
  • Monday, February 10th from 10AM to 5PM in Corner Brook

For further details and to express your interest please send an email to the CUPE Atlantic Political Action Coordinator at grao@cupe.ca. You will also need to contact your local executive to arrange book-off (release from work).

We hope to see you there! Watch out for future in-person and online election training opportunities.

Download a flyer with this information for circulation to your local here.

CLC: Workers Together Training & Canvass in St. John’s

We’re at a critical moment here in Canada. Soon, we will be casting our ballots in the upcoming federal election. 

The stakes couldn’t be higher. We need to elect candidates who’ll fight for working families – NOT Conservatives like Poilievre, who threaten workers’ pensions and public services that we all rely on – this will come down to how organized we are between now and election day. That’s why we’re kicking off a series of Day of Action Trainings to give workers like you the tools and skills necessary you need to get organized and make a real impact in your community.

The best canvasses are fun and full of energy, are well-organized and make good use of everyone’s time. They have a clearly understood purpose. Getting organized means learning to have tough conversations with our coworkers, loved ones and our neighbours. It means rallying as many votes as possible.

Join us in St. John’s, NL for this one-day training, a great introduction to organizing a canvass, discussing federal issues, working with volunteers, and we will end with a community canvass. Dress warm and wear comfortable walking shoes for the community canvass afterwards.

RSVP by clicking this link and registering today! Lunch will be provided to those in attendance.

WEBINAR: Why do the results of the next Provincial Election really matter for you and NL?

It’s likely that Premier Andrew Furey could call a provincial election very soon, giving us an important opportunity to protect public services and public service workers. We encourage all CUPE Newfoundland & Labrador members to join us for a webinar next Tuesday evening.

WHEN: January 28, 2025 at 7:00PM – 8:30PM
WHERE: Via Zoom at bit.ly/4joF8zq

A Political Education Event brought to you by CUPE Votes and CUPE Newfoundland & Labrador.