Guide to CUPW -- Private Sector Bargaining Units

Copies of the PSBU Guide will be mailed directly to private sector
bargaining unit members' homes shortly.



Who We Are

CUPW is a democratic union. CUPW members have a say every step of the way. They elect their own representatives. They help develop priorities for contract negotiations. Members also have a right to vote on the final package of demands that is developed during negotiations and any contract that is negotiated.


Our Members

Our 54,000 members work in large and small communities from Twillingate, Newfoundland to Tappen, British Columbia. A majority of members work for Canada Post as rural and suburban mail carriers, letter carriers, mail service couriers, postal clerks, mail handlers, mail despatchers, technicians, mechanics, electricians and electronic technicians. But CUPW represents more than post office workers. We also represent cleaners, couriers, drivers, warehouse workers, mail house workers, emergency medical dispatchers, bicycle couriers and other workers in more than 15 private sector bargaining units.


Our Structure

CUPW's national office is in Ottawa. The union has regional offices in Halifax, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, London, Winnipeg and Vancouver. There are CUPW locals with elected representatives in over 200 communities across the country.

Ultimate decision-making power in the union resides with the membership. At the local level, members make decisions about bylaws, local activities, delegates to national convention, etc. At the regional level, local delegates develop proposals for union policies, objectives, procedures and negotiations' demands. Every three years, representatives from the locals meet at a national convention to decide on a plan of action for the coming years. They also elect national and regional representatives (See Appendix 1 for a list of National Executive Board members). CUPW's national constitution and policies are the result of decisions from conventions.

For more information on the union's structure, see the organizational chart at the end of this document (Appendix 2).


Our Constitution and Policies

CUPW's constitution determines the union's objectives and procedures. Delegates to national convention have voted for the provisions in the constitution. CUPW's policies are listed in the coloured pages within CUPW's constitution. Policies are statements of principle that have been adopted by delegates to national convention.