Canadian Union of Public Employees – 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.

Canadian Union of Public Employees (C.U.P.E.) – Local 411

We have local autonomy which means we have own our set of By-Laws that governs our Executive on the day to day running of the Local as well as a negotiated Collective Agreement that the members and the Employer are required to adhere to.  The language in the aforementioned documents should never conflict or be in contradiction with the above Equity Statement and CUPE National’s Constitution.

Our Local currently represents over 1000 members, in the K-12 Sector, all of whom are highly skilled and committed professionals in the following five departments/divisions of the Chilliwack School District #33:

• Assistants (Aboriginal/Alternate/Special Needs Education, Braille, Chef, Hairdressing, Speech/Language, and Supervision Assistants, Career Advisors, Work Experience & Strong Start Facilitators, Early Childhood Educators, Child & Youth Care Workers, Journey Person Cooks)
• Clerical (Administrative Assistants, Accounting/Maintenance/Transportation Clerks and Library Assistants)
• Custodial (Custodian 1, 2 & 3’s)
• Maintenance (Trades and Technology)
• Transportation (Bus Drivers, Mechanics/Helpers, and Fleet Custodians)