Posts published in February 2026

Manitoba’s largest labour Union says Manitoba Hydro needs to take advantage of the Manitoba NDP’s newest regulatory changes that allow for Manitoba Hydro to hire Institutional Safety Officers (ISOs).

“Wab Kinew’s NDP has made the changes needed to help keep Manitoba Hydro employees safe at work” says Michelle Bergen, president of CUPE 998. “I look forward to working with Hydro to get these ISOs hired fast.”

The regulatory changes made in January 2026 would allow Manitoba Hydro to hire ISOs, a significant safety improvement to Manitoba Hydro.

“I can see a number of hydro sites where this work would be important to safety” said Bergen, “it may not be the last health and safety improvement we need to see, but it’s a step in the right direction.”

I’m a member with a temporary work permit. Is it legal for me to take part in a strike?

Yes. If you have a temporary work permit, your right to strike is protected, just like Canadian citizens and permanent residents. It is a protected activity under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and labour legislation.

You cannot be punished for participating in a legal strike, performing strike duties, and supporting the union during contract negotiations.

You are allowed to get strike pay and perform strike duties with a temporary work or study permit.

Does a strike affect my work or study permit?

No. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recognize that the rights of all workers are protected by law including workers in the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program, or with a post-graduation work permit (PGWP), or an international student permit.

Labour legislation in your province or territory and the Charter will protect your right to participate in legal strikes and protect your status as an employee during a strike. Depending on your jurisdiction, it is likely illegal for employers to intimidate workers into refusing to strike.

You cannot lose your visa or work permit by voting in a strike or contract ratification vote, or by taking part in a strike. All votes are confidential.

However, it is still your responsibility to keep your immigration status valid. According to IRCC, you should renew your immigration document at least 30 days before it expires. If your work permit will expire during a strike, you should start the paperwork for renewal immediately.

Will my application for permanent residence (PR) be affected while on strike?

Being on a legal strike cannot be used to punish you or affect the outcome of your PR application.

For the period you are on strike, you will not be working but will still be legally employed. This means you won’t collect the work hours you may need to qualify to apply for PR.

Depending on the type of PR application and the stage of the process you are in, the work hour requirement for your application may be affected. Talk to your union and an immigration expert to learn about your options.

Am I eligible for strike pay?

If you participate in strike duties, you will be eligible for strike pay. Strike pay is tax-free and members with temporary work permits are eligible like other workers to receive it.

Will CUPE support me if my employer tries to punish me for striking?

It is illegal for the employer to punish you for taking part in a strike. If they do, CUPE will fully support you through all relevant legal processes.

We recognize that you may feel afraid and vulnerable if you are working with temporary immigration status. CUPE will support you through this process.

Disclaimer: This fact sheet offers legal information, not advice. For advice related to your situation, talk to your CUPE National Representative and an immigration expert.

We provide essential services to children, youth, and families during moments of crisis. Yet we are facing chronic understaffing, overwhelming workloads, and wages that have not kept pace with the rising cost of living.

These conditions are driving burnout, turnover, and instability all of which directly affect the quality and continuity of care in our community.

Despite these issues, our employer has stalled at the bargaining table, refusing to negotiate solutions and instead using stalling and pressure tactics in an attempt to force us into accepting an unfair deal instead of working with us to find constructive solutions.

Please sign on to the e-action below, and send a message to the board of directors of Hamilton Child and Family Supports to negotiate a fair deal for CUPE 5300 members.

CUPE National President Mark Hancock joined CLC President Bea Bruske, Unifor’s Lana Payne, United Steelworkers’ Marty Warren, PSAC’s Sharon DeSousa, and Dave Chartrand from IAMAW on Parliament Hill today to call for a workers-first approach to the economy and trade, as Donald Trump reignites threats against Canadian jobs.

The leaders from all sectors of the economy across Canada made one point clear: we need a national, worker-centred trade strategy that protects domestic industries, strengthens public services, upholds human rights, and reinforces Canadian sovereignty.

Hancock said the challenge ahead is to preserve a Canada worth living in. “American corporate interests – backed by an increasingly aggressive, imperial approach to trade – see Canada’s public services and natural resources as untapped markets. They want to rob us of the very things that make up our national identity and the lifeblood of our communities.”

Supporting a worker-centred approach to trade and the economy is ultimately about strengthening Canadian sovereignty, Hancock continued. “Real sovereignty isn’t about slogans or flag-waving. It’s about having the democratic power to decide our own future. To protect public services, regulate in the public interest, and build an economy that works for people.”

After a CAQ bill sparked controversy over the role of unions in our society, CUPE Québec commissioned a major survey by polling firm CROP in December 2025. Some 2,000 Quebecers answered the call, and the survey findings are simply astounding.

As many as 81% believe that unions play a key role in defending workers, while 79% of respondents feel the Gouvernement du Québec is trying to reduce the impact of unions.

“The level of public support for unions shows that residents expect responsible politicians in Quebec to treat unions as the partners they always have been. Concerted action—not confrontation—allowed Quebec to make the economic and social progress that built our modern-day society,” said Patrick Gloutney, president of CUPE Québec.

“In December, the CAQ was trying to put obstacles in the way of unions. We spoke directly with Quebecers, and they clearly said that Quebec’s social model is important to them,” added Gloutney.

“Unions are central to that model. We’re the most egalitarian society in North America, and maybe even have the best quality of life. Our social model is the result of 100 years of labour struggles. To weaken us is to sabotage our society’s social model, and this survey tells us that Quebecers don’t want that,” concluded Fanny Demontigny, regional vice-president of CUPE Québec.