Canadian Labour Leader Proposes Unionizing Hookers In September 2004, Wayne Lucas, the Newfoundland president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) urged that prostitutes should belong to unions and enjoy the same benefits as any other workers. "Work is work…. These people are working…" Prostitutes should have access to benefits such as health care and pensions, he said. CUPE is Canada's largest union, with more than half a million members across the country, including workers in health care, education, social services, public utilities, transportation and emergency services. Illustration © Halifax Herald