Executive Board
Executive Board as of May 1, 2024
President
Randy Kootte
president@cupe561.ca
Vice President
Mike Myers
Treasurer
Darin Nielsen
treasurer@cupe561.ca
Recording Secretary
Jill Allen
Executive Shop Steward
Jeb Perry
Member at Large
- Karin Leathwood - School District #43 (Coquitlam)
- Shamus Halvorsen - School District #43 (Coquitlam)
- Donna MacMurchy - Coquitlam Public Library
- Carol Archibald - Transdev
Sergeant-At-Arms
Kyle Jones
Trustees
- Jennifer Corbett (April 2025)
- Delilah Burry (April 2026)
- Rebecca Campesato (April 2027)
Committees
CUPE 561
Grievance
- Karin Leathwood
- Jill Allen
- Lisa Gregory
- Debbie Monkman
Bylaws
- Jill Allen
- Lisa Gregory
- Darin Nielsen
- Jeb Perry
- Melani Williams
Social & Picnic
- Debby Cowan
- Lisa Gregory
- Jill Allen
- Karin Leathwood
School District Committees:
Negotiations
- Debby Cowan
- Jill Allen
- Lisa Gregory
- Debbie Monkman
Health and Safety
- Irene Schoemaker
- Mike Myers
- Jeb Perry
- 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
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
JEIS (Joint Early Intervention Services)
- Irene Schoemaker
- TBD
- TBD
Metro Council
- Donna MacMurchy
- Jane Gibbons
- Debbie Monkman
- TBD
- TBD
Fraser Valley District Council
- Elizabeth Roux
New West District Labour Council
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
Political Action
- Donna MacMurchy
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
What we do
Cupe 561 represents members from the following bargaining units: Children’s House Montessori Preschool, Coquitlam Public Library, TransDev, 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.