02/04/2026
Dear Sisters, Brothers, and Friends,
Happy Black History Month!
Please share the information below with members. Locals are encouraged to order Black History Month posters and bookmarks to promote learning and awareness throughout February.
Alberta’s history is shaped by Black workers and communities who faced enslavement, exclusion, racism, and systemic barriers, yet organized, resisted, and built strong communities. From early Black settlers in Amber Valley and Keystone (now Breton), to Black workers today in public services, education, health care, and municipalities, Black Albertans have played, and continue to play, a vital role in building this province and maintaining our public services.
For union members, Black History Month is a reminder that the labour movement has always been strongest when workers unite against injustice. Anti-Black racism harms workers, divides workplaces, and weakens collective power. Learning this history helps us understand why racial and economic inequality still exist in Alberta today, and why unions must stay at the forefront of fighting discrimination, exploitation, and unequal treatment on the job.
Black History Month is also a time to honour the ancestors and leaders of Black communities whose courage and organizing laid the groundwork for the rights many workers benefit from today. It is a time to recognize the ongoing struggle for liberation and dignity, and to recommit ourselves to ensuring Black workers are safe, respected, and represented in our workplaces and unions.
For CUPE members in Alberta, this month is not just about remembrance; it is about action. It challenges us to educate ourselves, listen to Black members, and confront racism whenever we see it. It urges us to organize for equitable bargaining language, fair hiring and job posting practices, and workplaces free from harassment and discrimination.
Black History Month reminds us that solidarity is active, not passive. It calls for learning, courage, and action. When we honour Black history, we strengthen our union, our workplaces, and our collective ability to fight for justice for all workers – today and every day of the year.
LINK TO CUPE NATIONAL'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH PAGE: Black History Month | Canadian Union of Public Employees
LINK TO THE ROYAL ALBERTA MUSEUM'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH RESOURCES LIST: Black History in Alberta | Royal Alberta Museum
In solidarity,
Thank you!