Posts published in February 2026

CUPE joins the Association québécoise du personnel de direction des écoles, AQPDE, in denouncing the harmful effects that the abolition of the Programme de l’expérience Québécoise, PEQ, will have on Quebec’s education system. At a time when staff shortages are already stretching schools thin, the expiry of work permits for over one thousand school workers will have a devastating impact on services to students.

“Services are already in a vulnerable state,” commented Michelle Poulin, president of CUPE Québec’s education sector. “The service centres of our member schools are already dealing with hiring freezes as well as employees’ sick leaves and resignations. We have to do everything we can to keep workers who are going through the immigration process. Otherwise, our education system will be in for a major shock in 2026. It would be absurd and cruel to put Quebec children through that.”

Poulin added, “Let’s also have some consideration for all the families who are putting down roots in Quebec and making a very positive contribution to our schools and to our society. We therefore demand that everything be done for them to stay in Quebec, whether it takes reinstating the PEQ or by any other means. The Québec government needs to sort this matter out. It’s urgent.”

After five days of negotiations, including a marathon session lasting twenty-four consecutive hours, your bargaining committee is proud to announce the Community Bargaining Association, CBA, has reached a tentative agreement with the Health Employers’ Association of BC, HEABC. 

The CBA represents over 17,000 community health workers in seven constituent unions across B.C., including four CUPE locals with about 1,800 members.

This tentative agreement represents the overwhelming solidarity between workers across the seven unions of the CBA, and the support members showed with a strong strike mandate, which helped achieve incredible gains.

The bargaining committee has made progress on every priority identified by members through various engagement activities. We have also secured a fair and transparent transition process into the CBA for supportive housing workers. We look forward to sharing the details of these wins with CBA members across the province soon. 

Workers in the CBA include home support, clinical, administrative support, and mental health workers who ensure that our clients have the basic needs of life such as adequate housing, food, social recreation, employment, and connection to services that support their mental and physical health. 

BC’s 25,000 specialized health professionals reached a tentative agreement in the early hours of Friday morning, February 20, after almost one year of negotiations between the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association, HSPBA, and Health Employers Association of BC, HEABC. 

Five CUPE locals representing about 1,200 members are part of the HSPBA.

HSPBA members mandated the bargaining committee to make improvements to wages, classifications, work-life balance, recognition and respect, and partnership for quality health care.

The tentative agreement achieves gains in all these areas, despite the province’s significant fiscal challenges. It provides general wage increases of 12% over four years, the maximum possible under the government’s wage mandate, and equal to that offered other public service professionals in BC. Gains have also been made in classifications, scheduling, premiums, special leave, occupational health and safety, professional development funding, dedicated steward time, and professional fees. 

CUPE representatives to the HSPBA bargaining committee are recommending members vote yes to accept the agreement. 

Complete information about the tentative agreement will be provided to members across the province starting late next week. All members will be given a chance to vote on the tentative agreement in an online ratification vote to be held in a few weeks. Dates will be announced shortly. 

CUPE representatives to the bargaining committee thank all members for their continued engagement and support during this round of bargaining. This tentative agreement was made possible by your determination and resolve to get a fair deal—congratulations to all of you.

Yesterday’s provincial budget revealed the disconnect between the Houston PCs and average Nova Scotians, says CUPE Nova Scotia President Alan Linkletter.

“CUPE members from continuing care assistants to school custodians provide critical services to Nova Scotians, but they are facing unsustainable working conditions,” Linkletter said Tuesday.

“The Houston PC government should be investing in the front-line care and services that Nova Scotians rely on every day.”

While investing $873.8 million toward the plan to build 5,700 new and replacement long-term care spaces by 2032, with seven new facilities scheduled to open this year, this budget does nothing to address the staffing crisis in the same sector.

The province is taking the same approach in other sectors, where most new spending is earmarked for capital or systems changes, rather than operating costs.

“While it’s true that additional infrastructure is necessary in many cases, new facilities won’t do anything to help Nova Scotians if there’s no one willing to work in them.”

CUPE members from across Canada descended on Parliament Hill on Tuesday to bring a clear message to parliamentarians: public services are what build Canada’s strength and sovereignty. Hundreds of CUPE members met with MPs, Senators, and parliamentary staff from all parties as part of CUPE’s first annual lobby day on Parliament Hill.

CUPE is calling on federal decision-makers to invest in public services to strengthen communities and build Canada’s resilience to economic shocks caused by Donald Trump’s economic sabotage. Canada’s largest union is also drawing attention to the dangers of cutting funding for health care, child care, education, and social services in the middle of an economic crisis.

“When the federal government pulls back, it doesn’t just stop here in Ottawa,” said CUPE National President Mark Hancock. “It flows downstream and lands on provincial budgets, municipalities, on school boards and hospitals, and ultimately, it lands on workers and families. Public services are not an expense line to be trimmed when times get tough. They are precisely how we weather the storm of uncertainty.”

Over the course of over 70 meetings with parliamentarians, CUPE members made one thing clear: Canada will not weather the economic storm of the current presidency and beyond by abandoning supports for communities and diverting those resources to corporate tax cuts and military spending.

“Any credible ‘elbows up’ strategy must be rooted in our shared commitment to universal health care, affordable child care and resilient communities,” said CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick. “We are here to remind our elected leaders that every public service delivered by CUPE members is a demonstration of Canada’s sovereignty in action.”