Comrades & friends,

It is with great sadness that our local announces the first loss of one of our members to Covid-19. We do not yet have permission to release the member's name, or service information, but will send along what we can, when we can, based on the family's wishes. So far, we can share that the member worked as a PO5 on shift 3 in the EMPP and was off work since March 28 on annual leave. They tested positive on April 13 before passing on April 18. Our thoughts and sympathies go the member's family and friends. Although this transmission appears to not have occurred through work, it is a stark reminder that we all need to remain vigilant and keep asserting our safety expectations, especially now that the new strains of C19 are rampaging across Canada.

Other important updates in this dispatch include: registration details for our May 8 GMM, an invite to a (virtual) May 1st International Worker's Day event, a free organizer training opportunity, and our latest local comic exploring the hypocrisies of power parading as the victim.

Please be safe out there.

In Solidarity,

(Virtual) General Membership Meeting: Saturday, May 8, 11:00am

As per the direction given by our CUPW National Executive, locals can hold GMMs via video conference as long as quorum is met and all participants have registered with all the required information by the specified deadline. For our full virtual GMM guidelines, please see the accompanying document below the GMM notice.

Register: www.cupw730.ca/home/calendar or LINK

Deadline: Fri, May 7, 2021, Noon. Registrations are confirmed after the deadline.

Those registering after the deadline will not be admitted. Please respect the time and efforts of those administering these meetings. For extenuating circumstances, or help registering, please contact: union@cupwedm.net

(Virtual) May Day Rally 2021!

Organizing For Power - Free Activist Training Opportunity

Join workers from across the globe in learning to Organize for Power!

Latest Local Comic - No Relief

CPC really didn't appreciate our last local comic drawing attention to how they treat our members like disposable parts. To heal those hurt feelings, our local confronted our mean-spirited cartoonist to change his bullying ways and help him understand that only when we meekly accept mistreatment will CPC eventually find it in their hearts to improve our working conditions! This new comic reflects this important understanding and hopes to usher in a new era of class-collaboration and mutual benefit! (For anyone missing it, this is a sarcastic comment.)

Ongoing Reminder: Local Office Access

To stay aligned with the newest health guidelines, our office remains locked and available by appointment only. We are trying to conduct all meetings with members over the phone or via video conferencing. Exemptions can be made for unique circumstances. In either case, please call (780) 423-9000 to arrange an appointment with the appropriate officer. We are extremely busy in the office trying to put out a thousand different fires, so please leave a message if you’re unable to catch us on the phone.