EDMONTON – Health care worker Raj Uppal has been elected President of CUPE Alberta. The forty-one-year-old mother of two was selected on Friday as the new leader of the 40,000-member strong organization, defeating incumbent Rory Gill.
Uppal appears to be the first woman of colour to lead a major union in Alberta.
Uppal has been the President of CUPE 41 for six years, representing 1,400 members at Grey Nuns and Edmonton General Hospitals. During her time as Local President, CUPE 41 focused on multiple health and safety improvements, with a successful push for better equipment and improved employer policies and practices.
“I’m honoured and humbled to gain the trust of CUPE activists,” said Uppal. “I’m excited to get started and to keep building our union as a strong force for working people.”
Uppal says as President she will work to improve ties with other unions. “We need to have strong working relationships with other unions, especially in the public sector, to build solidarity and win gains for working people.”
Uppal has served on the CUPE Alberta executive board for two terms as the Diversity Vice President. She is a former mortgage broker and previous member of UFCW 401.