Recently, CUPE 3903 brought seven elected delegates to the 2025 CUPE Ontario Convention! We spent many days voting, debating, discussing, and deepening our ties to the broader labour movement in Ontario.
Here’s a report back from key aspects of the Convention and perspectives from the delegates:
- Before the Convention officially kicked off, on Tuesday, May 27th, there was the University Workers Caucus! This was an opportunity for Ontario’s university workers to connect and prioritize which resolutions were the most crucial, with the caucus attendees coming from many different job types and institutions.
- The resolution-prioritizing process was conducted through a process called “dot”mocracy, where attendees were given four stickers that they could allot to the resolutions they felt were the most important.
- There were some mixed sentiments about this process in the room: some flagged accessibility concerns, some felt it was a performative exercise, while others appreciated the opportunity for participation.
- The resolution-prioritizing process was conducted through a process called “dot”mocracy, where attendees were given four stickers that they could allot to the resolutions they felt were the most important.
- Once everyone was registered with their badge and Convention kit in hand, it was time for the official first day! On Wednesday, May 28th, our delegates heard speeches and reports, plus they got to start voting on resolutions, which (if carried) compel certain actions from CUPE Ontario.
- A lot of this day’s content was exciting, with video content, fiery speakers, and a meaningful segment about the Women in Leadership Development program. Still, multiple delegates expressed a desire for more time in the day allotted to discuss and vote on resolutions.
- A possible recommendation for next year is to research potential constitutional amendments that would allow for the possibility of more time to thoroughly engage with the resolutions that Locals have brought to the Convention.
- The next day, Thursday, May 29th, featured various awards, a budget presentation, and more voting on resolutions!
- Many of our members also attended the Labour for Palestine meeting later that evening. The meeting’s main topics of discussion were about pension divestment and coordinating CUPE Locals to collaborate on submitting a boycott, divestment, and sanctions related resolution for the upcoming CUPE National Convention in October.
- On Tuesday, June 3rd, the CUPE 3903 Executive Committee voted to submit the Labour for Palestine BDS resolution to the CUPE National Convention, after having previously discussed it at the May General Membership Meeting!
- Many of our members also attended the Labour for Palestine meeting later that evening. The meeting’s main topics of discussion were about pension divestment and coordinating CUPE Locals to collaborate on submitting a boycott, divestment, and sanctions related resolution for the upcoming CUPE National Convention in October.
- Friday, May 30th had a packed schedule with more awards, more resolutions, and more Convention happenings! On this day, CUPE 3903 donated funds to each of the striking CUPE Locals that were recognized at the Convention:
- Finally, Saturday, May 31st was a half-day for our delegates! The CUPE Ontario Action Plan—which was fiercely deliberated on throughout the Convention—had its final vote, which carried, meaning the Action Plan was adopted!
- CUPE 3903 delegates spoke in favour of many parts of the Action Plan, while also highlighting the need in the Action Plan for an emphasis on international solidarity, especially solidarity with Palestine, as well as the need for divestment from weapons manufacturing.
- This was also the day that CUPE 3903 members got to speak up in favour of our own emergency resolution (ER3) compelling CUPE Ontario to resist anti-protest bubble zone bylaws, submitted in collaboration with CUPE 3902 and CUPE 2484.
- We are glad to say that this emergency resolution CARRIED!
- You can find the full text of the resolution at this link.
- Our delegates noted that getting an emergency resolution to the floor so that it can be voted on is a strategic process.
- Emergency resolutions benefit from having the endorsement of multiple Locals (each submitting their own copy), ideally from multiple sectors.
- Another key tip is to look at other successful resolutions for language ideas and talk to people on the resolutions committee to motivate your resolution (whether regular or emergency)!
- Good to know: For emergency resolutions, they have to be on the floor for a minimum of 2 hours before they can be moved, debated, and voted on.
- Many other important resolutions were brought to the floor during the course of the Convention, and some of our delegates took diligent notes on which resolutions carried, were defeated, or got referred.
- Some general observations that delegates had about resolutions is that there was very minimal debate on the majority of resolutions at this year’s CUPE Ontario Convention.
- Delegates noticed that this differed from previous years, where there was more vigorous back-and-forth about resolutions.
- A large number of resolutions carried unanimously and often also fairly uncontroversially. Resolutions that carried unanimously included:
- ER 91, on launching a campaign to defeat Bill 5
- 76, on promoting CUPE Councils
- 7, creating resources and a campaign on issues that international and non-status workers face
- 55, lobbying the provincial government to declare gender-based violence a provincial epidemic
- And more!
- Delegates also noted that there was some level of tactical planning that goes into successfully championing those resolutions that happen to be more controversial.
- Being conscientious about what mic you are lined up for (like finding an empty mic if another one has a long line-up) is important.
- Similarly, it’s good to be aware that calling the question to cease debate and go directly to a vote can happen from either a “pro” or “con” mic.
- Some delegates noticed that controversial resolutions would sometimes get referred back to the resolutions committee for adjustments, which when used in bad faith could forestall the opportunity to discuss and vote on them.
- Some general observations that delegates had about resolutions is that there was very minimal debate on the majority of resolutions at this year’s CUPE Ontario Convention.
CUPE 3903 delegates were visible at the mic throughout the Convention, speaking to solidarity beyond our borders, support for the Palestinian people, intersectional barriers to union participation, the need for coalition-building, the importance of our right to publicly protest, and more.
Our delegates were also very active behind the scenes, fostering new relationships and new opportunities for sharing our struggle with CUPE Locals across the province, from many different sectors.
If you are a CUPE 3903 member and want to get involved, please keep an eye out for news and updates relating to the CUPE National Convention happening October 6-10, 2025 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre!