CUPE is welcoming 16 new members at the Fraser River Indigenous Society where they will become the newest unit of Local 1936. These new members provide family development, early years learning and housing support for Indigenous Peoples, primarily in the communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
“As a workforce of mostly Indigenous peoples working in a community social service setting, CUPE was the obvious choice,” said Kassidy Dixon, spokesperson for the newly unionized workers. “CUPE is a huge advocate for workers in our sector, understands our issues, and will ensure our wages, working conditions and benefits are improved to meet provincial standards.”
Fraser River Indigenous Society workers were among the first groups to join CUPE in British Columbia using the province’s new single-step certification process. After a two-week information campaign, a majority of members signed cards to complete the certification without the need for a secondary vote to affirm the existing majority support.
“Community social service workers often come from marginalized communities and have precarious employment, meaning they face multiple barriers to seeking fair representation,” said CUPE 1936 President Sheryl Burns. “Single-step certification is about breaking down those barriers by respecting workers’ collective right to choose without interference.”
CUPE Local 1936 represents more than 1,200 workers in B.C.’s community social service sector including those working at community living societies, childcare facilities, social service organizations, neighbourhood societies, and non-governmental organizations like the John Howard Society. CUPE is B.C.’s largest union with more than 104,000 members in all parts of the province. For more information about CUPE and about joining CUPE, please visit www.cupe.ca.
