EROC

Join CUPE 998 at the 2025 Winnipeg Pride Festival!

CUPE Local 998 and Equal Rights and Opportunity Chair Jonny Maria are proud to stand in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQI+ community during Pride Month and invites all members to join us in celebrating diversity, inclusion, and equality at the 2025 Winnipeg Pride Festival, taking place from May 23 to June 1, 2025.

To mark the beginning of Pride festivities, Union Centre will be holding a Flag Raising Ceremony on Friday, May 23 at 10:00 a.m. We encourage all members who are able to attend to come out and take part in this meaningful celebration as we raise the Pride flag in unity and support. Click here for more 

Join Pride at the Leg on Thursday May 29th from 12:00 – 1:30 

Let’s show our CUPE 998 pride and stand together in support of love, rights, and acceptance for all.

More Pride events and updates to follow

Together, we celebrate. Together, we are stronger.
Happy Pride!

International Transgender Day of Visibility and The Two-Spirit and Transgender Day of Visibility in Manitoba

Join Local 998 and Union Activists from across Manitoba for the International Transgender Day of Visibility

Union Center at 275 Broadway will be holding a Flag Raising Ceremony at 10:00am in recognition of Transgender Visibility 

The International Transgender Day of Visibility was founded in 2009 by Rachel Crandall-Crocker a trans activist, psychotherapist and executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Transgender Michigan. Rachel wanted a reason to come together and feel joy with other members of the trans community. “I wanted a day that we could focus on the living,” Crandall-Crocker said. “And where we could have rallies all as one community all the way around the world.”

On May 30, 2024, The Two-Spirit and Transgender Day of Visibility Act was passed in the Manitoba legislature designating March 31 an annual day to recognize two-spirit and transgender persons. The bill was brought forward by Logan Oxenham MLA for Kirkfield Park in Winnipeg and Canada’s first transgender politician elected to provincial, territorial or federal office.

“Two-Spirit” and “Trans” identities are intertwined with Indigenous cultures and the LGBTQ+ movement, with “Two-Spirit” emerging as a term in 1990 to describe Indigenous people who embody both masculine and feminine spirits, while “Trans” is a broader term for individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. We also recognize that these identities and many other gender nonconforming identities have existed throughout recorded history and beyond.

Two-Spirit:

  • Origins:

The term “Two-Spirit” emerged in 1990 at the Third Annual Inter-Tribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference in Winnipeg, coined by Elder Myra Laramee to describe Indigenous people who embody both masculine and feminine spirits.

  • Traditional Roles:

In many Indigenous cultures, Two-Spirit people held important social and spiritual roles, often as healers, visionaries, and community leaders, and were respected for their ability to bridge the gap between genders.

  • Colonial Impact:

European colonization and the imposition of Western gender norms led to the suppression of Two-Spirit identities and roles, with many Two-Spirit people facing discrimination and marginalization.

  • Contemporary Significance:

Today, “Two-Spirit” is an umbrella term used by some Indigenous people to describe their gender, sexual, and spiritual identity, and it is a way to reclaim and celebrate Indigenous traditions and identities.

  • Not a Universal Term:

Two-Spirit is a pan-Indigenous term, and not all Indigenous cultures use it or have the same understanding of it. Many Indigenous cultures have their own specific terms and concepts for gender-nonconforming people.

 Trans:

  • Broad Term:

“Trans” is a broader term used to describe individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth, encompassing a wide range of identities, including transgender, non-binary, and genderqueer.

  • Historical Context:

The concept of gender variance has existed in many cultures throughout history, but the term “transgender” emerged in the late 20th century to describe individuals who identify as a gender different from their assigned sex.

  • Struggle for Recognition:

Trans people have historically faced discrimination and marginalization, and the struggle for recognition and acceptance continues today.

  • Intersectionality:

Trans identities intersect with other identities, such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status, and trans people of color, Two-Spirit people, and other marginalized groups experience unique forms of discrimination.

  • Advocacy and Activism:

Trans people have played a significant role in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, advocating for their rights and challenging gender norms.

Additional resources:

CUPE’s Bargaining Beyond the Binary: A negotiating guide for trans inclusion and gender diversity.

CUPE’s info sheet on Pronouns and Gender Diversity.

Truth and reconciliation: CUPE taking action through collective bargaining

Canadian Labour Congress Workers in Transition Guide

 

Addressing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

There have been some concerns brought forward by our members regarding the future of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and what that means for our local. Your CUPE Local 998 executive is strongly committed to a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive workplace culture.

CUPE 998 has a seat at the table with other unions and employee representatives on the Manitoba Hydro Diversity Council. This group discusses various DEI opportunities and concerns faced by employees. The council also supports learning and growth opportunities and activities for all employees within our organization that contribute to a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all.

Manitoba Hydro is committed to DEI awareness, education and support within our workplace.  Examples include the creation of employee resource groups (ERGs) to engage employees in generating awareness and a supportive workplace culture; mandatory anti-racism training provided by the provincial government; and promoting DEI in the workplace through events and activities shared through internal communications and on a New Diversity Calendar which highlights upcoming diversity days and events.

Our local is very active on several human rights committees covering all levels of engagement, including provincial, national, and global. These groups have been actively fighting against all forms of discrimination and hate for several years now through protests, counter protests, donations, and awareness events. We are committed to continuing this fight to improve and protect the human rights of workers and to educate our local communities on the importance of DEI in our society.

CUPE follows very strict protocols when complaints are made, and it is expected that all members adhere to the Equality Statement provided by CUPE National.

This year our local 998 (EROC) Equal Rights and Opportunity Committee plans on increasing our focus on member engagement so that we can build a stronger active local of diverse union activists through education, outreach, and visibility.

If you are experiencing any form of hate or discrimination, have questions regarding what you have read or want to know how to become more involved in our union please message us at ASK CUPE.

In Solidarity,
Your Local 998 Executive

 

Union Involvement Starts with You – Join a Committee!

At CUPE Local 998, we firmly believe in the power of working together as a team to achieve meaningful change and support our membership. Our union thrives on the active involvement of members like you, and together, we can continue to strengthen our collective voice.

We value our members and the diverse skills, perspectives, and energy you bring. By participating in one of our committees, you’ll have the opportunity to play an essential role in shaping the future of our union while addressing the issues that matter most to us all.

If you’re interested in joining a committee, we encourage you to reach out to the Committee Chairs or contact the CUPE Office. We’d love to hear from you!

The Committees are as follows:

  • Communications
  • Bylaws, Policies & Procedures
  • Education
  • Equal Rights & Opportunity
  • Grievance
  • Membership
  • Pension & Superannuation
  • Trustees
  • Wages & Agreements
  • Workplace Health & Safety
  • Political Action
  • Strategic Planning
  • Job Evaluation

Your voice matters, and your contributions help make our union stronger. Let’s work together to build a better, more inclusive, and equitable workplace for everyone.

If you are interested in joining a committee, please send an email the CUPE Office indicating the committee you wish to join. Submissions will be reviewed by the respective Committee Chair.

 

Transgender Awareness Week

To celebrate the Transgender Awareness week, there will be a Flag Raising event on Wednesday November 13th at 9:30 AM in the Union Centre front entrance. See more here

All are welcome to attend

In Solidarity,
Jonny Maria
Equal Rights and Opportunity Chair
CUPE National Pink Triangle Committee Chair