Canadian Union of Public Employees

Established in 1963, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) originally formed as a merger between the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) and the National Union of Public Service Employees (NUPSE). The largest union in Canada, CUPE represents over 700,000 employees working across education, libraries, transportation, health care, social services and more. CUPE is grounded in a decentralized organizing structure, which allows for each local to elect its own executive and establish its own structures and bargaining systems. There are about 70 CUPE offices located across the country.

Archival Materials

Buttons

This Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) button is a declaration of support for women's growing role in the labour movement and in the workforce. It challenges the traditional view that women's place is "in the kitchen". Many unions developed similar buttons and slogans.
A Woman’s Place is in Her Union

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Undated button by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1230 calling for support of library workers at the University of Toronto.
CUPE 1230: Support library workers – fight cutbacks

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Employment Equity – Canadian Union of Public Employees

  • Year created:

    --

  • Visual Artist:

    Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

  • Language:

    English
Undated button by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE/SCEP) in support of employment equity in Ontario.
Employment Equity for a better Ontario – CUPE/SCEP

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Undated Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) calling for equal opportunities for women.
Equal Opportunities (CUPE)

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Button distributed by CUPE Locals 1806, 1582 and 2758 during the strike at the Toronto Metro Reference Library in 1984.
Hi Tech Goodbye Jobs – Metro Toronto Library Workers

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
March 8 mars

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
This is a CUPE Local 1582 button from the 1984 strike at the Toronto Metro Reference Library.
Metro Library – Keep it user friendly

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Please don’t shop at Eaton’s

  • Year created:

    1985

  • Visual Artist:

    Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

  • Language:

    English
Solidarity

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
This is a button in support of the Metro Toronto Library Workers, members of CUPE Locals 1582, 1806, and 2758, during their tough negotiations and strike in the fall of 1984.
Support Library Workers: CUPE Locals 1582-1806-2758

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Technology Yes! Takeaways No!

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
In 1988, Karen Andrews, with the support of her union CUPE, successfully took the Ontario Health Insurance Plan to court to broaden the definition of family to include her lesbian partner and her children so they could be covered by her benefits.
We are Family – Karen Andrews/Local 1996 – Access to OHIP Committee

  • Year created:

    1996

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English

Documents
A Letter to Friends of Judy Darcy/Une lettre aux amis de Judy Darcy

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Author(s):

    Judy Darcy

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – Affirmative Action: Putting a Stop to Sex Discrimination

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – Sexual Harassment: Why It’s Important to Negotiate Clauses on this Issue

  • Year created:

    1982

  • Author(s):

    Jane Stinson

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE): 10 Pay Equity Myths

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE): Heading ‘Em Off at the Pay Gap

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE/SCFP) – The status of women in CUPE/ la situation de la femme dans le SCFP

  • Year created:

    1971

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
Elect Irene Harris: OFL Vice President 1993

  • Year created:

    1993

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English and French
Elect Judy Darcy for OFL Vice-President 1988

  • Year created:

    1988

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Elect Judy!/Élisez Judy!

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
Elect Julie Griffin for the 1st Executive Vice-President of the OFL 1986

  • Year created:

    1986

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Elect Miriam Edelson: OFL Vice-President 1993

  • Year created:

    1993

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English and French
Metro Toronto Library Strike – Proposed Settlement

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Nego-News: CUPE Local 1582 – May 1984

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Pre-Nego News – November 1983

  • Year created:

    1983

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Stop Harassment – A Guide for CUPE Locals

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Strike Bulletin – November 9, 1984

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Strike Bulletin – October 10, 1984

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Strike Bulletin – Ontario Division Strike Appeal

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Strike Looms at Metro Library – News Release

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Survival is the Issue in the Metro Library Strike: A Message to the Public

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English

Ephemera

Library Workers make libraries work: Bookmark

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Region:

    Ontario

Films

Don’t Call Me Baby

  • Year created:

    1975

  • Filmmaker(s):

    Margot Trevelyan

  • Language:

    English

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

Photos

Banners of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79 are seen at the 1983 International Women's Day March in Toronto.
International Women’s Day 1983 (Toronto) – Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 79

  • Year created:

    1983

  • Photographer:

    Judy Blankenship

  • Region:

    Ontario
The union leadership of the Metro Library Strike organized fun days on the picket lines as a creative way to attract attention, win support and build pressure on the politicians responsible for running the library. Here members of CUPE Local 1582 watch the poets and singers on the arts and letters solidarity picket, acknowledging the work of the Music and Fine Arts departments. Front row left to right: M. Gordon, Susan Willis, Gerry Haley. Back row Bob Adams, Susan Reed
Metro Library Strike – Arts and Music Solidarity Picket Day

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Photographer:

    Rob Laycock

  • Region:

    Ontario
Metro Toronto Library workers collected names from supportive members of the public while on the picket line in 1984. Staff from the bindery department organized and bound these petitions into The Big Book of Public Support to present to Metro Council.
Metro Library Strike – Big Book of Public Support

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Photographer:

    Rob Laycock
This is a photo of a rally at Toronto City Hall held by CUPE library workers who were on strike at the Metro Toronto Reference Library in 1984. Judy Darcy, head of the Strike Committee, is holding the megaphone.
Metro Library Strike – Judy Darcy Speaks at City Hall Rally

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Photographer:

    Rob Laycock

  • Region:

    Ontario
Shirley Lowe, a staff member of the Languages Department, holdes picket sign. Staff in this department provided services in over 40 languages, and many brought their own signs to the picket line.
Metro Library Strike – Picket Signs in Many Languages

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Photographer:

    Rob Laycock

  • Region:

    Ontario
Sheila Mackay, CUPE 1582 member of the bargaining committee during the 1984 Metro Library Strike wore this sign most days on the picket line during the 6th and 7th months of her pregnancy. The union was trying to ensure that women returning from maternity leave were guaranteed their own jobs back. They were also looking for adoption leave accessible to both partners, which they won and paid maternity leave, which they did not.
Metro Library Strike – Picketer Protests Punishment of Pregnant Workers

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Photographer:

    Rob Laycock

  • Region:

    Ontario
Sue Genge, President CUPE 1582 and Carlita Dimaano, member of the Strike Committee celebrating the ratification of the collective agreement reached with the Metro Toronto Reference Library after two months on strike.
Metro Library Strike – Post Ratification Celebration

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Photographer:

    Rob Laycock

  • Region:

    Ontario
Like most library picketers during the Metro Library Strike in 1984, CUPE Local 1582 Vice-President Linda Cornwell was seldom without a book.
Metro Library Strike – Reading on the Picket Line

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Photographer:

    Rob Laycock

  • Region:

    Ontario
Members of the three bargaining committees rallied the Metro Toronto Library workers on the morning of their return to work after the successful conclusion of their two-month strike. (November 26, 1984). From the left: Cameron Holyer and Peggy Keefe (CUPE 1806 bargaining committee), Anne Richmond (CUPE 1582 bargaining committee), Mindy Ginsler (President CUPE 1806), Sue Genge (President CUPE 1582), Ken Morton (President CUPE 2758), Sheila Mackay (CUPE 1582 bargaining committee), Alma Hyslop (CUPE 1806 bargaining committee).
Metro Library Strike – Return to Work Rally

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Photographer:

    Rob Laycock

  • Region:

    Ontario
This is an undated photo of welfare rights protest at Queen's Park features banner of Sole Support Moms.
Sole Support Moms Demand Welfare Rights

  • Year created:

    1982

  • Region:

    Ontario
Photo of one section of the Banner Project showing CUPE 2424 slogans including "Tory Economics = Working Poor" as well as the Women's Centre, St. Thomas University's "Fight Sexism; Fight Racism". Women's groups across Canada were asked to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): CUPE 2424

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

Posters
First Mourn. Then Work for Change

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Visual Artist:

    Joss Maclennan

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English