CUPE NS 61st Convention
May 25-May 28 2025
Convention Report, Submitted June 25, 2025
Larissa Atkison, VP, Dalhousie Part-Time Instructors
Overview and Key Points
The CUPE Nova Scotia Convention, held in Membertou First Nations, May 25-28, was a valuable opportunity for coalition building within CUPE and strategic advocacy for our Local. Our large delegation allowed for multiple members of our Local to speak to relevant Resolutions, run for election to provincial committees, network and build solidarity across CUPE sectors, and advocate for greater attention to post-secondary labour concerns within CUPE and the province.
Presentations and Addresses
The Convention featured a number of speakers on topics such as AI and the labour movement, CUPE’s provincial political action strategy, and CUPE National’s new secure email network that CUPE 3912 will be adopting. Danny Cavanaugh, President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour (NSFL), delivered an excellent presentation on the first day of Convention that clearly resonated with many delegates. His remarks affirmed the shared values and challenges across sectors and reinforced the importance of cross-union solidarity.
CUPE National President Mark Hancock’s address on day two was an energizing call to action that powerfully framed the political stakes of an engaged labour movement. His account of working with union leaders in Colombia—including one who was recently murdered for resisting political pressure—was a sobering reminder of the ongoing risks faced by labour organizers outside our borders. Hancock connected these threats to the threat local and international far-right movements pose to the labour movement, making a compelling case for the necessity of a distinctive and united Canada-wide labour movement, with CUPE playing a central leadership role. His message, while heavily politicized, was both impactful and motivational.
One of the most compelling presentations came from Danielle Sampson, CLC Atlantic Regional Director, who shared the innovative work being done to educate, support, and build coalitions among labour activists across the province. I found her talk an inspiring reminder of the resources available outside of the CUPE umbrella to support and empower labour activism in Nova Scotia.
Local Resolutions and Participation
Our Local successfully passed two important resolutions: one calling for CUPE’s support of the postsecondary sector in resisting Bill 12 and raising awareness of the widespread precarity among our sector’s workers; and another supporting the Justice for Workers campaign led by Christine Saulnier. I spoke in favour of the postsecondary resolution, alongside Lauren, Lachlan, and Renee from our Local. These interventions—alongside numerous one-on-one conversations throughout the convention—helped raise broad awareness among fellow CUPE members about the specific challenges facing postsecondary workers, including job precarity, lack of pension and health benefits, low wages, limited public visibility, and unstable work conditions.
Leadership and Future Advocacy
In a further step toward amplifying our Local’s voice, I ran for and was elected to the Province-wide Education Committee. I plan to use this platform to advocate for greater inclusion of postsecondary voices in sector caucus meetings (we were not included in the education caucus this year) and broader education-sector organizing.
While our endorsed candidate, Christine Saulnier, was not elected as President, our Local’s strong showing at the Convention was instrumental in building connections and solidarity, and in establishing ourselves as a leader and advocate within CUPE NS and the provincial labour movement.
Overall, the convention served as a powerful affirmation of the collective strength of organized labour and the strategic role our Local can play in shaping its future direction.