What We Stand For

At CUPE Local One we believe in strong worker representation, good working conditions and fair and equal treatment by the employer. Workers have a right to come to a workplace free of harassment. We believe in a membership that is highly informed and ready to stand up for its rights at any time. Our union works hard to keep you up-to-date with our Bulletin, regular meetings, member-to-member contact and phone tree.

After the vote to decide which union will represent workers at the new amalgamated Toronto Hydro, workers will be going back to the bargaining table with the employer to negotiate a new collective agreement with the employer. If Local One is the successor union, we will start off with our superior collective agreement plus any improvements recommended by our members. Our philosophy on collective bargaining is quite simple: “No Concessions”. It is through the collective bargaining process that workers are empowered and have the ability to make meaningful gains with the employer.

Looming in the future is the specter of deregulation, competition and ultimately privatization. Our view of the utility is that it remain publicly owned and controlled. At Local One we firmly believe in quality public services and will fight to defend them. This is why CUPE Local One opposes deregulation and will mount a fight back campaign to educate our members and the public. Other unions are accepting deregulation as a fact of life.

If we had accepted Bill 136 as a fact of life we wouldn’t have the ability to bargain collectively for our contract with the new mega-hydro. A new contract would have been imposed on us by a hand-picked provincial “Disputes Resolution Committee”.

CUPE Local One believes in being part of the larger labour movement in Canada. This connection will be crucial to face the huge battles we have coming up. If you vote for CUPE Local One you will be backed not only by the support of workers across Toronto but by the 460,000 members across Ontario and Canada.