Executive and Shop Stewards
President
Randy Kootte
president@cupe561.ca
Vice President
Lisa Gregory
vicepresident@cupe561.ca
Treasurer
Darin Nielsen
treasurer@cupe561.ca
Recording Secretary
Jill Allen
recordingsecretary@cupe561.ca
Senior Shop Steward
Mike Myers
seniorshopsteward@cupe561.ca
Member at Large
- Karin Leathwood - School District #43 (Coquitlam)
- Debby Cowan - School District #43 (Coquitlam)
- Donna MacMurchy - Coquitlam Public Library
- Carol Archibald - First Transit
Sergeant-At-Arms
Trustees
- Jennifer Corbett (April 2024)
- Delilah Burry (April 2025)
- TBD - (April 2026)
Shop Stewards
School District Shop Steward List List 2023-2024
First Transit 2023-2024 Elected (PDF)
Library Shop Steward and Committee Members 2022-2023
Committees
Grievance
- Karin Leathwood
- Jill Allen
- Lisa Gregory
- Debbie Monkman
Negotiations
- Debby Cowan
- Jill Allen
- Lisa Gregory
- Debbie Monkman
Bylaws
- Darin Nielsen
- Lisa Gregory
- Jill Allen
- Jeb Perry
Health and Safety
- Irene Schoemaker
- Mike Myers
- TBD
- TBD
DTA (Duty To Accommodate)
- Shamus Halvorsen
- Ari Silver
- Jeb Perry
- Lisa Gregory
Seniority Appeals
- Randy Kootte
- TBD
Benefits
- Irene Schoemaker
Tech Change
- Wendy Meston
Fraser Valley District Council
- TBD
Paid Ed/Job Related
- Randy Kootte
- Carla Nielsen
EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
- TBD
Contracting Out
- Debby Cowan
- Lisa Gregory
- Jeb Perry
- TBD
Joint Job Evaluation
- Irene Schoemaker
- Shamus Halvorsen
- Jill Allen
Pension
- Irene Schoemaker
Metro Council
- Donna MacMurchy
- Jane Gibbons
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
JEIS (Joint Early Intervention Services)
- Irene Schoemaker
- Wendy Meston
- TBD
New West District Labour Council
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
Political Action
- Donna MacMurchy
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
Social & Picnic
- Debby Cowan
- Lisa Gregory
What we do
Cupe 561 represents members from the following bargaining units: Children’s House Montessori Preschool, Coquitlam Public Library, First Transit, and School District 43 (Coquitlam).
Our local supports over 1900 members encompassing work sites from Hope to Burnaby.
Equality statement
Union solidarity is based on the principle that union members are equal and deserve mutual respect at all levels. Any behaviour that creates conflict prevents us from working together to strengthen our union.
As unionists, mutual respect, cooperation and understanding are our goals. We should neither condone nor tolerate behaviour that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of any individual or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.
Discriminatory speech or conduct which is racist, sexist, transphobic or homophobic hurts and thereby divides us. So too, does discrimination on the basis of ability, age, class, religion, language and ethnic origin.
Sometimes discrimination takes the form of harassment. Harassment means using real or perceived power to abuse, devalue or humiliate. Harassment should not be treated as a joke. The uneasiness and resentment that it creates are not feelings that help us grow as a union.
Discrimination and harassment focus on characteristics that make us different; and they reduce our capacity to work together on shared concerns such as decent wages, safe working conditions, and justice in the workplace, society and in our union.
CUPE’s policies and practices must reflect our commitment to equality. Members, staff and elected officers must be mindful that all persons deserve dignity, equality and respect.