CUPE 4600 is a member-driven union! We are only as strong as our active members.
One key way in which members can get involved is by joining a caucus.
Caucuses are forums where members can get together with others who have similar interests or concerns, and strategize their union involvement and participation.
To join the Rainbow Caucus you just have to show up to a meeting (they will be announced in our weekly digest). To be put in touch with the Caucus chair, please email mobcor@cupe4600.ca
The Women’s caucus:
For more information, contact the Women’s Caucus chair, Lisa Armstrong here: womencaucus@cupe4600.ca
The International Students caucus will organize, mobilize and take action on issues of specific interest to our international student members. The caucus will also liaise with the International Students Centre and the International Students Services Office at Carleton.
The caucus works to ensure the voices of international students workers are heard, and that the needs of international students workers are met.
To join the caucus, email mobcor@cupe4600.ca, or simply show up to one of their meetings, which will be advertised in our weekly digest.
The Undergrad Caucus is a place for our Undergraduate members to come together and ensure that their specific needs are being heard. Undergrads make up an important segment of our Unit 1 membership, and through this caucus and its members, we strive to include their voice in the operations of the union.
To join the Undergraduate Caucus, email mobcor@cupe4600.ca, or simply show up to one of their meetings, which will be advertised in our weekly digest.
The accessibility Caucus is for CUPE 4600 members who have disabilities, and allies who want to work at making their union more accessible for all members.
This is a brand new caucus, so it is still being shaped. If you would like to get involved please contact Jess at vp.unit1@cupe4600.ca or attend a meeting of the caucus.
Another key way in which members can get involved is by joining one of our Committees.
Committees are the engines of our Local! They work closely with the Executive and Caucuses to turn ideas into action.
Like caucuses, they are a great opportunity to meet your fellow union members and make a difference; not just by fighting to improve working conditions on campus, but in the wider community beyond the university.
If you are interested in joining one or more of these committees please contact us!
The Mobilization Committee looks for ways to involve the membership in the functioning of the local. We do this by fostering an activist spirit among members, organizing events, pickets, participation in solidarity rallies, creating outreach materials, running campaigns, and doing campus outreach. During bargaining years this committee gets particularly active, as ensuring mass participation by the membership is crucial to the bargaining process.
This committee is chaired by the VP external of our executive. it’s main goal is to reach out to other unions and organizations beyond the local in order to build solidarity.
This committee is tasked with assisting and advising the local on issues related to human rights, equity, solidarity, and anti-oppression.
They work to improve the health and personal safety of CUPE 4600 members by improving the awareness of health and personal safety problems faced by members of the Local. They collaborate with the Human Rights Committee, the Women’s Caucus, and the International Members Caucus to mobilize the membership of CUPE 4600 to confront violence and intimidation on campus, especially gender-related violence, as well as racist and homophobic violence and intimidation, and conducting campaigns on health and personal safety issues
This committee gets into the nitty-gritty of the local’s bylaws, by reviewing the bylaws, making recommendations to the executive and general membership, and reviewing proposed bylaw changes.
More exciting than it sounds! This committee helps prepare the annual budget presented to the membership at the AGM, monitor the local’s expenses, and help administer the strike fund.
Working very closely with the Bargaining Team, the Bargaining Research Committees will not only do the research to back-up the demands of the bargaining team, but also work with the membership year round to inform the priorities of upcoming bargaining rounds.
This Committee will work on finding ways to make our union more equitable, accessible, and welcoming. Meetings are open to any member of either units. It is chaired by the local’s Equity Trustee.
Local 4600 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 4600), represents all Teaching Assistants, internally-funded Research Assistants, and Contract Instructors at Carleton University. It is the largest union on campus, with nearly 3000 members.
You can reach the union office by email or by phone, or by visiting us in person.
Monday – Friday: 10am-4pm (closed from 12-1pm)