CUPE Ontario is the political wing of the Canadian Union of Public Employees — Canada’s largest union in the country’s most populated province.
With more than 200,000 members, CUPE Ontario is a formidable political voice. We campaign at the provincial level for legislative, policy and political change on issues affecting public services and our dedicated members who deliver them. We are proud to partner with labour and community groups to build strong communities and the kind of province that we all want.
Privatization, forced mergers, cutbacks, restructuring and other issues are affecting our quality of life in Ontario. They are also putting jobs, wages and working conditions of thousands of working people on the line every day. At CUPE Ontario, we continue to lead major campaigns in our key sectors:
Health Care
Making restructuring work for quality health care—from LHINS to long-term care, hospitals, community care and emergency services.
Municipal
Fighting costly privatization of community services like water, electricity and arenas.
School Board
Campaigning to fix the faulty school funding formula and provide quality education.
Social Services
Ensuring the health and economic well being of communities through adequately funded social service agencies and dedicated front-line workers.
University
Championing accessible and affordable university education across Ontario.
Our elected leaders, executive board, staff and activists also provide leadership on a range of social justice issues including human rights, diversity and education as well as key matters such as pensions and health and safety.
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – Ontario
May 26, 2012 10:36 ET
Cobourg custodian elected to CUPE Ontario executive board
WINDSOR, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – May 26, 2012) – Vern Andrus, a Cobourg resident for nearly three decades, was elected to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario executive board at the union’s convention, which wrapped up in Windsor today.
More than 1,100 CUPE members and staff from across the province attended the 49th annual convention from May 23 to 26, voted to re-elect Andrus to represent them as one of six members-at-large on the board.
A member of CUPE 5555, Andrus works as head custodian in an elementary school for the Kawartha Pine Ridge School Board, ensuring students learn in a clean and safe environment. He also serves as secretary-treasurer of his Local.
“I have been a union activist for over 30 years. I believe now more than ever, we need to continue the fight to protect and save all jobs, especially with the austerity measures of the Ontario Liberals and the trade agreements that are being secretly negotiated by the Harper government,” said Andrus.
CUPE Ontario is the province’s largest union. It represents more than 230,000 workers in five main sectors: health care, school boards, municipalities, social services and universities.