The CUPW Pacific Region is pleased to announce that it will be hosting a reception for the following two international Sisters:

Sister Mathapelo Mphuthi, Second Deputy Secretary, Communication Workers Union of South Africa (CWU).

Sister Mathapelo was elected to the union executive two years ago, and comes from the postal sector. She is responsible for the development of women’s leadership in the union, and participates as a union representative in the regional and national women’s organizations in South Africa. Her responsibilities include recruitment of new sectors to the union and new forms of organizing, particularly with regard to call centers, courier services and other sectors that the union is organizing in response to the privatization of the postal and communication industries of South Africa.

Sister Jacaranda Fernández Mejía from Nicaragua (will speak in Spanish).

Sister Jacaranda is the former head of the Hospital Workers Union in Masaya and acting municipal Coordinator for the National Labour Front of Nicaragua. Jacaranda will speak on the defense of quality public services in Nicaragua and the need to develop alliances with the social movement to protect services. Sister Jacaranda is one of the union leaders responsible for the delivery of a joint PSAC SJF and CUPW training program with public sector workers in Nicaragua. She will address the strategic importance of developing solidarity among service providers and users as the only way forward in order to stop the privatization of public utilities and services.