Raj Uppal elected President of CUPE Alberta

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Health care worker Raj Uppal has been elected President of CUPE Alberta. The forty-one-year-old mother of two was selected on Friday as the new leader of the 40,000-member strong organization, defeating incumbent Rory Gill.

Uppal has been the President of CUPE 41 for six years, representing 1,400 members at Grey Nuns and Edmonton General Hospitals. During her time as Local President, CUPE 41 focused on multiple health and safety improvements, with a successful push for better equipment and improved employer policies and practices.

Uppal says as President she will work to improve ties with other unions. “We need to have strong working relationships with other unions, especially in the public sector, to build solidarity and win gains for working people.”

Uppal has served on the CUPE Alberta executive board for two terms as the Diversity Vice President.  She is a former mortgage broker and previous member of UFCW 401.

2025 Election Results

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In our last General Membership meeting we had nominations for six positions and all candidates were acclaimed.  See below.

Vice President — Dan Payne was acclaimed

Recording Secretary — Serge Lutz was acclaimed

Sergeant at Arms — Mike Hill was acclaimed

Executive at Large — James Annan was acclaimed

Trustee — Aaron Bolan was acclaimed

Trustee — Marco Nicoletti was acclaimed

Season’s Greetings from The President

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Good Day,

Season’s Greetings and all my best moving into a New Year.  As the year closes out out Members will gain another 3.25% pay increase as of December 30, 2024.  This increase will help support our Membership and their Families and I want to recognize all the hard work you have done.  We continue to work hard to improve your work area while you support our vibrant City.

Thank you and Happy New Year in 2025.

Frank

Local 709 Ratifies New Contract

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Our Local 709 Bargaining Committee would like to thank the Membership for ratifying the new contract.

With over 82% of the votes in favour of ratification, our Membership has ratified the new contract.

Highlights of the contract include:

3 year contract with wage increases:

2024 = 3.0% — 2025 = 3.25% — 2026 = 3.25% — this also will include back pay in 2024 going back to Jan. 01 — we are not sure when we will get the back pay but we think it will be in late August or sometime in September — once we know we will post the news on this website

Shift differential increase of 10%

Extra half day stat on Christmas Eve

Extra 20 minutes break on a 10 hour shift

Increase in your banked vacation from 240 hours to 320 hours based on a 40 hour work week

Thank you again L709 Membership for ratifying this contract — we will see you at our next meeting in September.