Comrades & friends,

With the closing of nominations last week, I’m excited to announce that there will be local elections held for the Executive positions of President and 2nd Vice President (EMPP). Once campaign guidelines and pandemic protocols are finalized, information on the candidates and voting times should be available as early as next week and throughout the rest of the month via candidate literature, bulletins, our newsletter and the website.

The candidates, and their nominators, will give brief presentations at the beginning of the Mar 7 GMM before we get into the important business of debating RSMC negotiation demand resolutions. RSMCs: this GMM is a once every four year opportunity, please join us to debate how you would like your working conditions improved through your negotiation demands! GMM registration details can be found below. 

Other important dispatch updates include a final registration call for our CUPW history reading group (deadline Mar 8) and multiple International Women’s Day events (Mar 6 & 8).

In Solidarity,

Local General Membership Meetings (Online): March 7 & 13

In addition to regular GMM business, and local executive candidate presentations, the March 7 GMM will focus on the presentation and adoption of RSMC negotiation demand resolutions for the CUPW Prairie Regional Conference. Another special GMM will be held Saturday, March 13, 2021, 11am to focus on Urban negotiation demands. Each meeting will have their own notice, and registration -- please register separately!  (Read more >>)

CUPW History Reading Group: My Union, My Life 

Registration closes March 8! My Union, My Life provides an ideal text for us to delve into the most active and organized periods of CUPW history, where we were able to make tremendous gains for ourselves and other workers. The lessons in Brother Parrot’s book will be invaluable as we prepare for the struggle to protect and improve our own jobs, as well as revitalize the Canadian labour movement. All CUPW activists welcome! (Read more >>)

International Women's Day (Rally Mar 6 & Forum Mar 8) 

Join Women 4 Rights & Empowerment (W4RE) to celebrate women on the pandemic frontlines and to demand decision-making power to create a better future. Excerpt from W4RE’s New Year’s Statement: “The pandemic has exposed longstanding problems including the necessity to end pay-the-rich schemes, attacks on workers’ rights and the two-tier system for migrant workers; the creation of quality, accessible seniors care and childcare for all; ending colonial relations; and to make Canada a factor for peace. It is through these fights that we gain confidence that working people, with women in the lead, are capable of governing, and that decisions must be in the hands of working people over all aspects of the economy and society.” (Read more >>)

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.