CUPE 1883 is run by the members for the members. It is a democratic organization. The Executive of CUPE 1883, which makes the day-to-day decisions, is elected through a vote of the membership every two years. Major decisions, such as whether to accept a union contract, called a Collective Agreement, are made directly by a vote of the membership. The Executive Board consists of six officers: President, Vice-President Job Evaluation, Vice-President Health and Safety, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Grievance Chair. The Executive Board meets approximately every two weeks, and there are monthly General Membership Meetings held once a month from January – June, and September – December.
There are various ways members can participate in the union. Members volunteer to serve on committees, including the Social Committee, as a Steward, on the Education Committee, amongst others. Stewards stand as the first line of defence when a problem occurs. A Steward is the person to see when you have questions about your rights or questions about the union. Members can also participate in CUPE 1883 by attending the General Membership Meetings.