CUPE Local 218 is made up of 3,700 education workers employed by the Durham Catholic and District School Boards.
Working as Custodial and Maintenance workers, Office, Secretarial, Clerical, Technical, Educational Assistants and in Continuing Education and LINC/ESL, our members help Durham Region schools run smoothly on a day-to-day basis.
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Union solidarity is based on the principle that union members are equal and deserve mutual respect at all levels. Any behaviour that creates conflict prevents us from working together to strengthen our union.
As unionists, mutual respect, cooperation and understanding are our goals. We should neither condone nor tolerate behaviour that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of any individual or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.
Discriminatory speech or conduct which is racist, sexist, transphobic or homophobic hurts and thereby divides us. So too, does discrimination on the basis of ability, age, class, religion, language and ethnic origin.
Sometimes discrimination takes the form of harassment. Harassment means using real or perceived power to abuse, devalue or humiliate. Harassment should not be treated as a joke. The uneasiness and resentment that it creates are not feelings that help us grow as a union.
Discrimination and harassment focus on characteristics that make us different; and they reduce our capacity to work together on shared concerns such as decent wages, safe working conditions, and justice in the workplace, society and in our union.
CUPE’s policies and practices must reflect our commitment to equality. Members, staff and elected officers must be mindful that all sisters and brothers deserve dignity, equality and respect.
We acknowledge that we are gathering on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabek [AhhNishNahBeck]), Haudenosaunee [HoeDenayShowNay], Huron-Wendat, Attawandaron and Lunaapew [Luh-nay-PAY] Indigenous peoples.
This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and the London Township Purchase of 1796 also known as the London Treaty.
The three First Nations communities closest in proximity to our city are: Chippewa of the Thames First Nation (part of the Anishinaabek [AhhNishNahBeck]); Oneida Nation of the Thames (part of the Haudenosaunee [HoeDenayShowNay]); and, Munsee-Delaware Nation (part of the Lunaapew [Luh-nay-PAY]).
We’re grateful for the opportunity to meet here and we thank all the generations of people who have taken care of this land – for thousands of years.
With a spirit of generosity and commitment to reconciliation, may we proceed [this evening] and as we move forward, with respect, peace and authenticity towards all our brothers and sisters and recognize our own responsibility in the stewardship of this land.
