Young Workers

Welcome to the COPE Ontario Young Workers’ Alliance Page

Young Workers Photo

Message from Matt Dumas – CYWA Chair

Greetings Young Workers and thanks for checking out the COPE Ontario Young Workers Alliance (CYWA) web page.

In 2008, Sister Trish Qualtrough and I thought of the idea of creating a committee that was specific to the needs of young workers who are members of COPE Ontario. After compiling a presentation which was delivered to the COPE Ontario Executive Board later that year, we received unanimous support from our leadership who encouraged and helped us get the committee off the ground.

Through our network of COPE Ontario stewards and Local Unions, we sent out surveys to as many young COPE Ontario members as possible. With the information given to us in the surveys, we now have a group of young members who are eager and ready to take on young workers’ issues and represent COPE Ontario in the broader labour movement.

The COPE Ontario YWA is looking to make a difference, not just for our own members, but for all young workers. Through collaborative efforts with other unions and community groups, our goal is to protect and advance the rights and freedoms of young workers while building strong relationships with our allies. With educational and mentoring opportunities that are available to young members, we can set goals and work hard to achieve them; in-turn, making our union stronger and more successful.

I strongly encourage any young COPE Ontario member (age 30 and under) to get active and make sure that our collective voice is heard! We are always looking for young members to get active and bring a different perspective to our group. Please feel free to send me an e-mail or give me a call if you have any questions at all.

In Solidarity,

Matt Dumas
Chairperson, COPE Ontario Young Workers Alliance
Tel: 519-495-8280
E-mail: matt.dumas@rogers.com

The COPE Young Workers’ Alliance is participating in a letter writing campaign to encourage supporting Canadian workers by buying goods produced and manufactured here in Canada.

Below is a copy of the letter (Word Format) the COPE Ontario Young Workers Alliance has created that we are sending to our individual MP’s urging them to support Bill C-392 (made in Canada – Procurement).

If passed, the bill would now require our Government to purchase Canadian made goods, or at very least, products that have a high concentration of Canadian content. Therefore, ensuring that the citizens of our country will have a greater chance of obtaining or retaining a good Canadian job versus industries being shipped overseas where labour costs and value of people are substantially lower.

You can find out who your MP is by clicking on the following link and entering your postal code:

Find your MP here

All you need to do is fill in your name, address etc., sign and mail the letter to your MP’s office in Ottawa (no postage required).

Ltr to MP re Bill C-392 062409

Thank you!