Worker Power Today and Every Day

It’s been just over a month since CUPW held its 27th National Convention in Toronto where delegates spent a week debating reports, resolutions and elected their leaders for the 2023-2027 term. I’d like to once again welcome and congratulate all newly elected union representatives and thank them for their service and dedication to CUPW.

The term may be young, but we are already focused and working towards our biggest objective of the next year: collective bargaining with Canada Post for the Urban Operations and RSMC bargaining units. This round of bargaining will be challenging, but we will only achieve our goals by staying focused and sticking together.

Regional conferences have already begun to review the demands put forward by Locals to determine which ones to send to the National Directors to create our program of demands.

I’ve traveled to numerous provinces to attend these meetings and it’s been great to hear what matters most to members going into bargaining, and I look forward to attending more. It’s been a pleasure meeting and talking to members on the workfloor throughout these visits. Face-to-face interaction with members was something we all missed during the early days of the pandemic, and I’m so glad we’re now able to come together and talk about what’s happening on the workfloor.

Equally as important as our program of demands, is our capacity to mobilize and put pressure on Canada Post during bargaining. Bargaining with the employer is never easy, and to win we must be organized. That’s why we are continuing the work we started last term with Building Worker Power. Organizers out of each region continue to hold workfloor meetings, recruiting and training workers in workfloor organizing. We are committed to building the solidarity of our union, so we are ready to fight and be successful in bargaining.

Since Convention, it’s been great to attend many labour events, including the national conventions of the Canadian Labour Congress and the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions. I’m inspired by all the dedicated and talented people who are working together to build a better, brighter future for all workers.

I’m also excited to announce the launch of the CUPW National President’s Facebook page. [fb.me/CUPWPresSTTP]. I look forward to sharing news, experiences, and reflections from union halls to work floors, to rallies, and from across the frontlines of the labour movement.

The next year will be busy and challenging, but I invite all of us to come together and show our collective power. We will be ready to take on any challenge together.

Stay strong. Stay focused. And we will win.

In solidarity,