Formerly a local of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), skilled workers in Canada wanted to create a different approach to being in a union and build their own path. They wanted to create something new and bold, and after years of hard work, the Canadian Union of Skilled Workers was born in February 1999.
Unions at the time focused on the industries of the past. CUSW wanted a strong union for the future, one where innovation, knowledge, new skills, and the creation of jobs in exciting, modern industries, would be welcomed.
The founders of CUSW made democratic values and community outreach a priority, with a new constitution and strategic plan that would guide the union and its membership to break new ground and adopt new ways of doing things.
Many of the pioneers who gave so much to establish CUSW over twenty years ago are still involved today. It’s a testament to the strength of our union and the vigilance of our membership that keeps CUSW going strong well into the future.
It’s been a very successful two decades, and CUSW has established itself as the best decision for skilled workers wanting to join a labour union in British Columbia and throughout Canada.
The first meeting of the Canadian Union fo Skilled Workers took place on January 16th, 1999, and a lot has changed since then. We were a small group of 300 members. Today, we're over 4,000.
A Constitution Based on Democracy
Our Values and Beliefs as outlined in the Constitution: Honesty, Integrity, Fairness, Equality, Respectful Treatment, Family Consideration, Common Sense, Decisions Benefiting the Members, Decisions Promoting the Workers, Involvement (including stakeholders), Democratic Processes, Trust
CUSW is responding to the fluctuating world of work in British Columbia and taking on the challenges of the global economy. CUSW members are knowledge workers who understand that the economy and the workforce is always in transition.
Some of the jobs skilled workers perform today may not even exist twenty years from now. That’s why CUSW is committed to the principle of lifelong learning and skills upgrading. Members are encouraged to take on training, innovate their skillsets and contribute to new knowledge.
When workers join a union like CUSW, they are prepared for change and the possibility of doing things in new ways. Having a multitude of blended skills sets for CUSW members is a strength, and instead of waiting for things to happen, our union employs the tools to train workers for the economy of the 21st century in British Columbia.
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