Abe Araya Elected as President of CUPE Manitoba

BRANDON – Delegates at the 2019 CUPE Manitoba Convention in Brandon elected Abe Araya as President of the province’s largest union. Abe Araya comes from CUPE Local 110, representing custodians, maintenance, and painters at the Winnipeg School Division.

“Our union is focused on fighting back against cuts to health care, education, social services, and privatization,” said Araya. “Despite Brian Pallister’s attempts to divide working people, we will be uniting workers from across Manitoba to put a stop to Pallister’s austerity agenda.”

Delegates at convention voted in support resolutions, ranging from health and safety in the workplace, anti-oppression training for activists, pushing back against privatization, fighting against health care and education cuts, and supporting the Green New Deal.

“CUPE is an incredibly diverse union,” said Araya. “With the strength of Manitoba’s largest union, we will be on the front line defending public health care and education, public Hydro, and fighting for properly funded childcare and social services for all Manitobans.”

CUPE’s annual convention featured guest speakers, including NDP leader Wab Kinew, NDP Critic for Infrastructure and Municipal Affairs Matt Wiebe, NDP Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre Leah Gazan, Winnipeg School Division Trustee Yijie Chen, and Manitoba Health Coalition Director Breanne Goertzen.

CUPE National President Mark Hancock and CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Charles Fleury spoke to delegates, committing the full strength of CUPE’s 700,000 members to fight against cuts and privatization.

Manitoba Federation of Labour President Kevin Rebeck provided updates on labour’s united front against Bill 28 (The Public Services Sustainability Act) and committed to fight against the Pallister government’s unconstitutional wage freeze.

Two hundred people rallied outside Brandon City Hall with CUPE Local 69 on Wednesday evening, voicing concern over the contracting out of work at the Wheat City Golf Course.

Gord Delbridge, President of CUPE Local 500 served as interim CUPE Manitoba President throughout 2019. Delbridge continues to serve as Vice-President of CUPE Manitoba. Barb Gribben of CUPE Local 737 was this year’s recipient of the prestigious Jack Rodie Award, recognizing dedication and activism in the union.

“Our union is stronger, and more united than ever,” said Araya. “Manitobans can count on CUPE to defend good jobs, and fight for our public services.”

The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada’s largest union representing more than 700,000 members.  In Manitoba, CUPE represents over 36,000 members working in health care facilities, personal care homes, school divisions, municipal services, social services, childcare centres, public utilities, libraries and family emergency services.

Free the girls NOW rally

We would like to invite you to the following Rally on Thursday. The Institute for International Women’s Rights-Manitoba will be supporting this march from Portage Place, to the Legislative Building. We hope you can make it too.

INVITATION

We are deeply touched and solicit your support and participation alongside Winnipeg based Human Rights Activists in a Mega Protest March tagged “FREE THE GIRLS NOW” on Thursday, May 15, 2014, from 12:00pm to 1:00pm

The protest march shall begin at 391 Portage Place nearby the bus shelter and end at the Manitoba Legislative building, downtown, Winnipeg.

Let our voices re-echo the worldwide condemnation of the violence and nefarious atrocities orchestrated against the Nigerian girls, people and humanity at large by the extremist and terrorist group Boko Haram.

Join us in this historic March to free the very future of our world.

 If you are able, the dress code shall be red shirts/T-shirts in solidarity with their families and supporters.

Gertrude Hambira, Protest Organizer, (204) 962-3361

gertrudehambira@hotmail.com

Roxana Obasi, Protest Organizer (204) 599-9678

roxanaobasi@yahoo.com

Action Alert: Support Workers in Cambodia in International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day in Cambodia is closely associated with the women who make the clothes you might be wearing as you read this.  Their unions play a key role in organizing IWD events in that country.

All week the Cambodian government has been moving police and troops into position.  Tomorrow an estimated 30,000 women garment workers are expected to celebrate IWD  by attending an open-air ‘Forum on Labour Rights’ in Phnom Penh.  And if the recent history of Cambodia is anything to go by, they will then be attacked.

Knowing that the world is watching might just give the Cambodian government second thoughts.  The global union you might be a member of (among others, the Steelworkers and Unifor are affiliated to it), IndustriALL, is running an online action HERE. Take 5 seconds out of your Friday and send a message that might save a life tomorrow.
via www.labourstart.org

Filipino Labour Activist Visits Winnipeg

The National President of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) will be speaking at two events in Winnipeg about the struggles and challenges of the labour movement in the Philippines.

Ferdie Gaite will be speaking at Sam’s Place, 159 Henderson Highway, to Manitoba labour leaders and union members on November 1, 2013, from 7 – 10 pm.

“We are honoured to have one of the Philippines’ most active labour organizers speak to us in Winnipeg” says Kelly Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba, “we are committed to helping defend labour rights of workers in the Philippines in the same way we are committed to defending labour rights in Canada, our struggles, while different, are the same”.

COURAGE is the largest labour confederation in the Philippines, with over 275,000 members at the forefront of the Philippine public sector workers’ struggle for decent wages, humane working conditions and full union rights. They are currently campaigning to expose, oppose, and fight against corruption.

“The struggle for decent wages, workplace health and safety, and decent public services is a universal struggle” says Moist, “building a bridge between our movements is essential in ensuring fairness for everyone”.

Also speaking at the event will be Kelly Moist, CUPE Manitoba President, Diwa Marcelino of Migrante, and a musical performance by Levy Abad Jr.

Admission is free, and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

The event is a pan-Canadian CUPE Global Justice Project.