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Nova Scotia child care workers demand answers on back pay delays

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Early childhood educators, ECEs, across Nova Scotia are calling out ongoing delays in receiving back pay they are owed. Employers have confirmed that required paperwork has been submitted, and that government is the source of the months-long delay.

Workers say the issue is no longer administrative—it is about respect.

“Workers have done everything required. Our employers have done everything they were asked to. And still, months later, we’re not being paid,” said Jennifer Chase, a Bridgewater-based ECE and president of CUPE 3688. “At this point, it feels deeply disrespectful to have our wages held back like this.”

The Minister has had since November to finalize a formula for distributing retroactive pay. While other public sector workers have already received their retroactive wages, ECEs say they have been left behind without explanation.

“Minister Brendan Maguire told the public this was being worked on ‘around the clock,’” said Tabitha Warren, a Halifax-area ECE and president of CUPE 4745. “If that’s the case, then where are the results? We need direct answers.”

The local says the delay sends the wrong message to a workforce that is essential to the functioning of the entire economy.

“Our sector is what allows every other sector to operate,” said Warren. “You can’t say you value early childhood educators while withholding wages they’ve already earned.”

Workers are calling for the immediate release of all outstanding retroactive pay, a clear public explanation for the delays, and a firm timeline for payment.

They warn that if action is not taken quickly, they are prepared to escalate.

“This is money we’ve already earned,” said Chase. “We are ready to take the next steps to get what we’re owed.”

Toronto Zoo workers reach tentative agreement

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After nearly three months of collective bargaining, members of CUPE 1600 at the Toronto Zoo have reached a tentative agreement.

“We’re pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that reflects the needs of our entire membership, including both permanent and seasonal workers,” said Lynda Bongelli, president of CUPE 1600. “Our bargaining committee worked hard throughout negotiations, and I’m proud of what they’ve done with the support of our members to reach this agreement.”

The union will not disclose specific details of the tentative agreement until CUPE 1600 members have had the opportunity to review its contents and vote on the agreement.

CUPE 1600 represents more than 400 workers across over 140 roles at the Toronto Zoo, including zookeepers, horticulturalists, trades workers, educators, conservation staff, and guest services workers.

Mark your calendars: Dollars and Sense Conference

The conference will offer three days of expert guest speakers and dynamic workshops to equip executive members with the information and skills they need to carry out financial responsibilities and to feel confident making good financial decisions.

This conference is designed for all local executive members, not just financial officers and trustees. With two streams of workshops, there is something for everyone. We are offering financial officer training for treasurers and trustees, as well as workshops appropriate for every executive member on topics such as building a local budget, by-laws, campaign essentials and accessing CUPE National financial resources.

This will be an exciting event – hope to see you in Winnipeg!

Collective agreement language to support members with temporary work permits

CUPE locals across the country represent members working under different temporary work permits. These permits include temporary foreign worker (TFW) permits, study permits and post-graduation work permits (PGWP).

This document is for CUPE bargaining teams and local executives. It will help you bargain strong collective agreements that meet the needs of members with temporary work permits.

The term “members with a temporary work permit” refers to members with temporary immigration status. Depending on their immigration program, these members may also be called migrant workers, foreign workers, temporary foreign workers, or international students.

CUPE members with temporary work permits are covered by existing collective agreements. They must also follow other rules and regulations, depending on their work permit and immigration program. CUPE locals should be ready to enforce and expand their collective agreement to protect the rights of members with temporary work permits.

Our solidarity is essential. Canada’s immigration system is often racist and is used to exploit workers from other countries. Workers with temporary immigration status face financial instability, employer abuse and exploitation, and can be deported if their status changes.

Negotiating the language in this guide into your contract will help protect CUPE members with temporary work permits and defend their rights. Collective bargaining is one way CUPE members and locals can support the fight for migrant justice. Locals should contact their national representative for more information about bargaining these provisions and other ways to support members with temporary work permits.

Jewish Heritage Month

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The Jewish community has long played a central role in labour struggles and in the fight against discrimination in Canada. For Jewish Heritage Month, CUPE honours the historic role of the Jewish community in the promotion and defence of labour rights and social justice, and we call on our members to take action against the alarming surge of antisemitism in Canada and around the world. We must remain united and vigilant in our collective struggle against anti-Jewish hate.

As part of our celebration this year, we encourage members to learn more about Canada’s Jewish Labour Committee (JLC). Founded in the 1930s and active through the 1960s, the JLC worked through the labour movement to confront antisemitism and advance human rights. In 1947, the organization successfully lobbied to pass the first anti-discrimination resolution at the Canadian Congress of Labour, demanding “vigorous action” in “the fight for full equality for all peoples, regardless of race, colour, creed, or national origin.” The committee’s work helped embed human rights principles in Canadian labour and its legacy continues to shape our movement today.

Local application for membership form

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Download the local application for membership form below. Open the downloaded form on your device to complete it and affix a digital signature. Return the completed and signed form to your local.

May Day – International Workers’ Day

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CUPE joins workers around the world opposing a surge in aggression from the United States, Israel and their allies through illegal wars and economic pressure aimed at dominating the land, resources and people of other countries.

Attacks from the far right, disregard for international law, racism and anti-migrant policies threaten our rights and quality of life. We are also confronting a growing push to privatize public services and the staggering rise in the cost of living.

May 1 commemorates the massacre at Haymarket Square in Chicago in 1886. On this day, workers around the world take to the streets to celebrate their collective power, defend their rights, and demand equity and economic justice.

CUPE celebrates International Workers’ Day, or May Day, in solidarity with millions around the world who denounce exploitation, defend their right to unionize, and demand decent and safe working conditions.

In Canada, many workers mark May 1 with rallies. The day is a moment to remember the major victories achieved by worker activism and solidarity. These include the eight-hour workday, paid sick leave and the right to a safe workplace.

International Workers’ Day is a chance for us to celebrate the labour movement’s collective strength, and our ability to protect and fight for our public services, the working class and our hard-earned rights.

International solidarity is our best tool in the fight for workers’ rights. CUPE encourages everyone to join this worldwide mobilization.

Take action

Order our poster celebrating International Workers’ Day.
Share CUPE’s fact sheets and bargaining resources for CUPE members working with temporary immigration status.
Send a message to federal immigration minister Lena Metlege Diab demanding status, not scapegoating, for migrant workers.
Organize a CUPE workshop with your local, committee or division. Check out Global People Power: Building Worker Solidarity in a Global Economy, and our new workshop Solidarity with workers in Palestine. To schedule this workshop contact education@cupe.ca .
Take part in International Workers’ Day celebrations, events and rallies in your region.

Asian Heritage Month

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Asian Heritage Month has been celebrated across Canada since the 1990s and has been officially recognized since 2002.

We acknowledge and honour the activism of people of Asian descent in their fight for human rights and social justice. Their ongoing struggles against multiple forms of oppression have been instrumental in strengthening our labour movement and our communities.

Some of those struggles included resistance against the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Head Tax; the denial of the right to vote or to run for public office; the exploitation of Chinese railway workers; the internment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War; and the Komagata Maru incident which led to challenges to the federal government’s racist “continuous journey regulation” policy.

These struggles are historical, but anti-Asian racism is still present today, as shown with the increase in anti-migrant sentiment toward the South Asian community and anti-Asian racism linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Asian Heritage Month, CUPE reminds members that we are here to support you through any experience of racism in your workplace, union, and community.

CUPE’s Anti-Racism Strategy specifically calls out anti-Asian racism and outlines 10 goals to fight racism in our workplaces and our union. CUPE encourages members to act against racism and all forms of discrimination and oppression.

Organize

Read our new fact sheets about building a more representative CUPE, and use the tips in your local.
Help put CUPE’s Anti-Racism Strategy into action, using these tips to reach the strategy’s 10 goals.
Learn how to support members who are migrant workers with CUPE’s resources at cupe.ca/migrant-rights
Ensure that labour legislation in Canada recognizes and protects all migrant workers including international students through stronger labour standards such as living wages, safe and healthy working conditions, and human rights protections.

Act

Celebrate Asian Heritage Month in your local – share on social media, organize lunch-and-learns and screen videos.
Send a message to federal immigration minister Lena Metlege Diab calling for status, not scapegoating, for migrant workers.
Join the Migrant Rights Network in taking action to ensure justice for all migrant workers, including workers of Asian descent.
Contact us at antiracism@cupe.ca to get involved in implementing the Anti-Racism Strategy at work and in your local.

Earth Day

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For Earth Day 2026, all CUPE locals and their members are encouraged to take steps to help green our work and lives. CUPE’s national environment policy calls on us to cut emissions that cause climate change, fight for environmental justice, eliminate plastic waste and other steps.

We know what our environmental problems and challenges are. Enough talk has happened on issues like climate change and water quality. Clear steps will move us forward. As citizens, as workers and as union members pressuring employers, we can and must be part of the solution.

This Earth Day, let’s act to improve our world. Here are some actions to take:

Form an environment committee, climate committee or create a union position for a sustainability rep to work with employers to take green action at work.
If you have greenspace at work, plant trees and put in a vegetable garden to grow food for your workplace.
Carpool, get to work with active transportation (bicycle, walk), and take public transit. This greatly reduces carbon emissions that cause climate change.
Put zero-waste programs in place where you work by recycling, composting, and banning plastics.
Use technology (online meetings, document sharing, electronic documents only) to cut down on travel and paper waste.
Partner with climate and environmental justice groups.
Read CUPE’s environmental policy for background on actions you can take at your workplace.

Workers' Day of Mourning

On April 28, CUPE members across the country gather to honour workers who have been killed or injured on the job.

We mourn the loss of four members of our CUPE family in 2025:

Miguel Escalante Ledesma, CUPE 1000, Ontario
Nabil El-Ahmed, CUPE 5167, Ontario
Kulbir Kalia, CUPE 3338, British Columbia
Jose Castillo, CUPE 416, Ontario

We also mourn the very recent loss of the following members:

Richard Anstett, CUPE 79, Ontario
Neil Harris, CUPE 54, Ontario

We hope you will join CUPE members and workers around the world in renewing our shared commitment to preventing workplace injuries and deaths and ensuring the health and safety of all workers.

CUPE has also declared 2026 its Year of Health and Safety. Throughout the year, we are placing a special focus on strengthening our health and safety committees. Strong committees save lives. They identify hazards, prevent injuries and help ensure every worker returns home safe. We encourage locals to support their committees, empower worker participation and take action to improve health and safety in every workplace.

You can help advance this work in your local by accessing CUPE’s health and safety resources.

Day of Mourning materials can be ordered online. Please order your materials early to ensure we can fulfill your order.

Download the poster