Year: 2015
Location: Edmonton
Profile: Bena Pattni joined Canada Post as a letter carrier in 1986, becoming a member of the Letter Carriers Union of Canada and later the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). After she attended Strength and Power, a CUPW National Women’s Committee that promotes women’s committees in Locals and women’s broader union involvement, she and Local 730 colleagues organized a Women’s and learn Committee in 1999. It empowered women members to connect, network, and discuss worksite issues, union bargaining, and how to raise concerns. Worksite Issues included ensuring childcare arrangements for CUPW meetings, and writing language into collective agreements to combat workplace harassment and violence against women. Over time Pattni witnessed more visibility of women in her Local and its leadership, and more attending the National Convention. The Committee organized yearly Equinox Conferences for women members that promoted both engagement and educational opportunities. Apart from her Local work, Pattni sat on CUPW National Women’s Committee for six years as an alternate or full member. One project she worked on was Moving Mountains, which provides support for CUPW members with children with disabilities. Pattni views the Women’s Committee as having a continuing critical role amid Canada Post cuts and increasing precarious employment.
Keywords: Childcare; CUPW Local 730; CUPW National Women’s Committee; Harassment against women in the workplace; Letter Carriers Union of Canada; Strength and Power: Women union leaders; Women’s participation in unions; Workplace violence; Women of CUPW.
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See also: Canadian Union of Postal Workers; Occupational Health and Safety in Alberta; Women and Work in Alberta