Get Involved

Coming to a membership meeting is an easy and low commitment way to get familiar with your union and hear about what your executive officers are doing throughout the year. There are also opportunities for members to ask questions, participate in moderated discussions, and hear of various opportunities that may come up.

We include virtual meeting options to reduce barriers to our members’ attendance.

We know many of you work varying shifts and have other commitments, and may not be able to come to all the meetings. You are welcome to review meeting minutes in our office. Contact us to make an appointment.

At this time, we can only share meeting minutes in person. We are working to make secure electronic sharing possible in the future.

See our events page for meeting schedules. Meeting notices are emailed to all members seven days before the meeting.

Health AND Safety is for everyone. We need your help to build more awareness and worker representation when it comes to health and safety at the workplace.

Let us know if you are ready to step up as a worker representative in your Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC). This is paid work, there are annual training allotments and the union can support you with additional resources and supplemental training.

No previous experience is necessary. You just need to be interested and able to commit to training, attending monthly meetings and completing any assigned tasks for the committee.

For more information or if you are interested in joining your work area JOHSC, contact your shop steward or use our contact page.

Are you -or a coworker you know is- interested in exploring union stewardship? You will learn more about your collective agreement and how it’s implemented in the workplace.

Shops stewards are the first point of contact between members and their union and they model by upholding the collective agreement and our union values. They are curious, caring but firm, listen well, and are willing to learn new skills. No previous experience is needed.

We accept shop steward nominations in September each year. This allows us to do elections if needed and plan training by the end of the year.

To nominate a coworker as a shop steward, use the contact form and put “shop steward nomination” in the subject line.

We want to plan more events for everyone. While we enjoy planning a pretty great end of year party, we often can’t find the capacity to plan other events we like to see. How about a summer barbecue in a park, or movie night and popcorn for Labour day?

If you like event planning, are comfortable emailing and calling around to make bookings and arrangement, are detail oriented and take joy in watching your coworkers have a good time, please connect with us.

We will provide you with criteria, ideas and a budget to help us level up our social game!

New and young workers are often exposed to more health and safety risks, and may not yet be aware of worker rights and regulations that can protect workers.

Are you a new to the workforce and under 30-ish? Do you want to know what unions are all about and why you pay union dues? Or maybe you are ready to join a young worker committee, represent us in labour events and participate in leadership training through our labour partners.

If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you. Send us a message and let’s connect!

You can celebrate and support each other by requesting swag, retirement gifts, and arranging a sympathy or celebration gift for coworkers experiencing major life events.

Check back soon for our online catalogue of CUPE 1978 swag.

To make a request, contact form to connect with us.

Our provincial union and parent organization, CUPE BC, organizes several work sectors such as municipalities, agencies and NGOs, and community health. There are often opportunities to join committees related to these sectors to further a goal specific to the sector.

CUPE 1978 can help you join these committees. You will expand your knowledge, build new connections, and have opportunities to represent your local union at provincial or national events and conventions.