By Kavi Chahal, Communications Staff
Workers are taking action across our province and across our country. We are standing up and standing firm, demanding the wages and working conditions we deserve.
From town halls, to rallies, and, finally, to picket lines, workers are standing up for themselves and the important work they do.
Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) were the most recent workers to take strike action in Alberta, and AUPE members were proud to support and learn from their experiences.
“AUPE members don’t just stand by when we see fellow workers struggling. We stand up and act in solidarity.”
“Workers are taking action, refusing to be mistreated by their employers,” says AUPE Vice-President Bobby-Joe Borodey. “AUPE members don’t just stand by when we see fellow workers struggling. We stand up and act in solidarity.”
No one goes on strike on a whim. You have to be serious and weigh the benefits against the risks.
Well, these CUPE members were dedicated – they went on strike in the dead of winter.
They channeled the same dedication they bring to their jobs, where they help students thrive – jobs that are vital to Alberta’s public services but for which they are not fairly compensated or respected, just like AUPE members.
“We face many of the same challenges. We understand each other. And we all know what’s at stake in bargaining.”
“We are proud to stand in solidarity with CUPE members,” says Borodey. “We face many of the same challenges. We understand each other. And we all know what’s at stake in bargaining.”
AUPE members did not hesitate to support CUPE on the picket line. In fact, newly trained AUPE Strike Captains joined them by the busload. Not only did they offer CUPE members a wave of support, but they also gained valuable experience that will help them support AUPE members if we go on strike.
With over 82,000 AUPE members bargaining for new collective agreements, we must prepare to take action ourselves. Showing up for our CUPE comrades was one important step in many of the fight for the gains all workers deserve.
AUPE members did not show up empty handed. We know it is important to build a sense of community on the picket line and, of course, have some food and fun! What better way to have a good time while walking the line than a winter weather barbecue? CUPE and AUPE members got a true taste of solidarity with some help from the AUPE barbecue cart.
“We are much stronger together than we are apart. If we all stand in solidarity, no one will keep us down.”
“It is so important to build strong, supportive relationships with our fellow workers,” says Borodey. “We are part of a widespread, powerful movement that is growing stronger and stronger."
“We are much stronger together than we are apart. If we all stand in solidarity, no one will keep us down.”
CUPE members demonstrated strength and commitment in their struggle—and their hard work paid off! After months of marching in the snow, they forced their employers to take them seriously and get back to the bargaining table and reach a tentative agreement.
They showed us what we can achieve with grit and determination. They showed us how a little support goes a long way.
They showed us that a win for CUPE members, or any number of working-class Albertans, is a win for us all.
