About us

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.