CUPE Local 5167 – Our History
CUPE Local 5167 is a composite local representing workers across seven units:
- Hamilton International Airport
- City of Hamilton (Inside & Outside)
- DARTS (Disabled & Aged Regional Transportation System)
- Good Shepherd (Women’s Services, Family Centre, and Reaching Home)
- Lodges (Macassa and Wentworth)
- Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG)
- St. Matt’s (SMH)
The history of municipal union representation in Hamilton dates back more than a century. According to The Labour Gazette, City of Hamilton employees were chartered as a union in 1918 through the American Federation of Labour as Civic Employees Union Local 16208.
In 2000, CUPE Local 5 (City Outside, RBG, Airport, and Flamborough Outside) and CUPE Local 167 (City Inside, Flamborough Inside, and Dundas Inside) merged to create CUPE Local 5167.
A merger committee was established to negotiate the new local and consisted of:
CUPE Local 5 Representatives
- Ed Thomas
- Fred Loft
- Peter Wickett
- Sid Gratton
CUPE Local 167 Representatives
- Mary Lou Tanner
- Carolynn Carter
- Vickie Houston
- Gus Oliveria
- Rick Freedman
- Liz Ambelton
CUPE National Representatives
- Mike Stokes
- Tom Baker
For its first year, the newly formed CUPE Local 5167 operated with a combined executive while maintaining two memberships and two offices. After one year, members voted to unite as one cohesive local.
Over the following years, additional locals joined CUPE Local 5167, including:
- CUPE Local 1006
- CUPE Local 1220
- CUPE Local 3488 (DARTS)
Growth Through Amalgamation
In 2001, the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth was amalgamated to form the new City of Hamilton. As part of this restructuring, the Macassa and Wentworth Lodges were merged into a single unit following an arbitrator’s decision.
In 2014, CityHousing Superintendents joined CUPE Local 5167 and were later incorporated into the City Unit.
In December 2016, CUPE Local 5105, representing workers at St. Matthew’s House, merged with CUPE Local 5167 and became a unit within the local.
In 2019, the Good Shepherd Family Centre was incorporated into the Good Shepherd Women’s Services collective agreement. Reaching Home was also added, and together they became known as the Good Shepherd Unit.
A Stronger Union Together
Today, CUPE Local 5167 proudly represents members across municipal services, transportation, social services, housing, recreation, environmental stewardship, and community support programs throughout Hamilton. Our history reflects a century-long tradition of solidarity, growth, and collective action in service of our members and the communities they support.
