An Ontario CUPE Local involved in post-secondary education is in need of support as they fight to bargain.

“The staff at the York University Faculty Association (YUFA) have been on strike since October 27th. Their employer – a union – has proposed to restructure the workplace by hiring two new non-unionized managers while weakening staff’s contracting-out and job security protections. The employer is also refusing to strengthen harassment and discrimination protections for their staff.

YUFA is proposing to direct resources away from front-line services to pay for expensive managers. They have not provided any financial explanation for how YUFA will afford these two new non-unionized managers” (Jan 4 2026, https://cupe.ca/yufa-fair-deal).

“The staff at the York University Faculty Association (YUFA) have been on strike since October 27th. CUPE 1281 offers our sincerest thanks for the solidarity we have received in support of the strike” (Jan 4 2026, https://1281.cupe.ca/solidarity-letters).

If you would like to send a letter of solidarity, you can reach the Strike Committee at 1281atyufastrikecommittee@gmail.com

Please also help advocate by following the link to sign a letter campaign to their employer: https://cupe.ca/yufa-fair-deal

Do you feel like spreading some kindness?

A smaller CUPE local of only 32 members, Local 4317, have been striking since September 22. They help connect Canada to the world in their work as shipping container transport agents in the Port of Montreal. As the winter months come, this striking Local could use a morale boost for their stand against contracting out.

Please send a quick message or letter of support to Local 4317 at custeau1@msn.com.

For more information, see this CUPE news article and the below notice from CUPE National:

“TO ALL CUPE CHARTERED ORGANIZATIONS

Dear Sisters, Brothers, and Friends:

The 32 members of CUPE Local 4317 have been on strike at the Port of Montreal since September 22. It has now been seven weeks since they have been fighting for a fair collective agreement, yet negotiations remain at a standstill.

These workers, transport agents for the Montreal Gateway Terminals company, play a vital role in the supply chain on which we all depend. Every day, they coordinate the arrivals and departures of containers, ensuring the port operates efficiently. Their struggle is simple and legitimate: to obtain decent wages and real respect for their work.

Rather than negotiating in good faith, the employer has chosen to review its technological needs and directly attack workers on the issue of reefer container management, a service that our members perform competently. This is a clear attempt to divert the debate and put pressure on the union rather than seek fair solutions. In the face of these maneuvers, union solidarity is more essential than ever. CUPE Local 4317 members need the support of their allies across the country to make their voices heard and remind everyone that at CUPE, no one fights alone.

We are calling on CUPE chartered organizations across Canada to stand in solidarity by sending letters of support and contributing financially to sustain their struggle.

Letters of support can be sent to: custeau1@msn.com.”

Support Members in Tough Times with Local 829’s Wellness Committee

Please reach out to a committee person if you know a fellow member who is experiencing prolonged illness, an overnight hospital stay, a death in the family, or a member who has passed away.

Contact the Wellness Committee with the member’s name, their circumstance, and their contact information (personal phone number is preferred) so that delivery arrangements for a sympathy gift can be made.

Committee Chairperson, Cynthia Henders: QPbiz2020@gmail.com

Committee Member, Corinne Miller-Feasey: cormill@telus.net

Local 829 President, Christina Schmidt: presidentschmidt829@gmail.com

L829 Bylaws state…

This committee may:

(i) If a member has been in the hospital overnight or off ill for one (1) month or more, send a gift of fifty ($50.00) dollars including delivery and GST.

(ii) Extend the Local’s condolences in the event of a death:

(a) Of a member and make any other appropriate gesture in accordance with the wishes of the family concerned of one hundred ($100.00) dollars including delivery and GST if applicable.

(b) A member’s immediate family (Immediate Family shall mean spouse, son, daughter, parent, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, parent of a spouse, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, common law spouse, and also a relative who is a member of the Employee’s household) and make any other appropriate gesture in accordance with the wishes of the family concerned of fifty ($50.00) dollars including delivery and GST if applicable.

(iii) Extend the Local’s condolences in the event of a death of a member’s extended family member (not in the above definition) with a card.

The signed 2024-2028 agreement is now available on our collective agreements page.

This year, 497 pairs of pyjamas were collected through the “Bring A Child A Smile” committee’s PJ campaign, marking the 12th anniversary of this important initiative led by local education workers with CUPE Local 829. The campaign’s mission is to ensure that new pyjamas are always available for individuals entering shelters throughout the year.

Thanks to the generosity of the public, CUPE 829 educational support workers have donated approximately 500 pairs of pyjamas annually to the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter over the past decade, totaling around 6,000 sets!

Your support continues to make a difference in the lives of those in need, and we are truly grateful for your contribution and our opportunity to help.

CUPE hosted an Education Event on November 23 & 24, 2024.

Union education is one of the many benefits a CUPE member has!

Remembering the sacrifice of veterans, those currently serving, and loved ones passed.

Thank you to Cynthia Henders, who represented Local 829 to lay a wreath at Medicine Hat’s Remembrance Day ceremony in Central Park.

Lest we forget.

May Day