Monday May 24 2021
On this day a year ago, CUPW, and the labour movement as a whole, lost an activist, a mentor, a trailblazer, and a friend.
Megan Whitfield was a long-time postal worker and labour activist who dedicated her life to improving the lives of working people. She was a dynamic and fearless leader who was at the forefront of many struggles, including pay equity and health and safety improvements.
Megan was a tenacious and tireless champion in the struggle against racism, sexism, and intolerance. She advocated for greater diversity in the labour movement, and led by example. She was the first Black woman elected President of CUPWs Toronto local, the largest in Canada, and was involved in anti-racism work at CUPW through the Ontario Federation of Labour and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.
The labour movement across the country is stronger because Megan argued for a powerful, inclusive, and anti-racist trade union movement.
In her honour and to help carry on her legacy, CUPW is proud to announce the Megan Whitfield bursary. The $5,000 bursary will be awarded annually to a CUPW member in good standing, or their dependent, from an equity seeking group who is studying at a publicly-funded, publicly-run post-secondary institution in Canada.
Sister Whitfield’s work must go on. We must continue to push for the fair and equitable treatment of all workers and all people
For more information about the bursary and how to apply, please see Megan Whitfield Bursary.