Word from the National President

The Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union

Welcome to the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union (COPE). We are a progressive and diverse national union in Canada representing a varied group of workers in both the private and public sectors. Our members work in all sorts of industries, such as insurance and finance, utilities, public transit, car rentals, taxis, early childhood education, public school and post secondary education support, unions and other labour organizations, health care and beyond. We have a long and proud history as a union, which dates to 1933. Our 35,000 members can be found right across Canada in our four regions and 35 local unions.

COPE believes that workers are stronger when we stand together. And so we value our affiliations to the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), the largest labour organization in Canada with approximately 3,000,000 members across Canada and the FTQ – Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec –. As well, we work in solidarity with our global union federations UNI Global Union, IndustriALL Global Union, and Public Services International.

Our success as a union has made our members’ working conditions and lives better. We believe that all workers deserve fair compensation, safe working conditions, reasonable time off and high quality benefits that will help them support their families. At our core, COPE has always been about standing up for fairness, dignity, and respect.

As our union has grown, so too has our passion and advocacy for human rights. We are committed to breaking down barriers and tackling systems of oppression and discrimination, in society, and in our own structures. COPE is an ally and leader when it comes to social and political change, including reconciliation with indigenous peoples. We stand up for equal pay and reproductive rights for women and gender minorities, and we amplify the voices of racialized individuals, disabled people, the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and many others.

Join our movement to make your workplace, your community, and our world a better place.

Annette Toth

President, COPE-SEPB