Official call to the twenty fourth CUPE national convention

This call to all organizations chartered by CUPE is in accordance with Article VI, Section 3 of the CUPE Constitution. Credentials, together with a $185 registration fee for each delegate, alternate delegate, or observer must reach the Office of the National Secretary-Treasurer by August 21.

There is an additional registration fee for delegates and alternate delegates planning to attend the pre-convention sectoral meetings on Sunday, October 4, 2009. Information on the sectoral meetings is enclosed.

Registration will take place Sunday, October 4, at the Palais des congrès de montréal from noon to 5:00 p.m. and will continue Monday, October 5, from 8:00 a.m.

Representation at convention

Article VI of the CUPE Constitution deals with representation at conventions as follows:

6.4 Representation at Convention shall be:

6.5 Representation at Conventions shall be based on the paid-up membership, including Rand Formula payees, on the average number of members of the last twelve (12) months before the convention call is sent out.

6.6 Any chartered organization entitled to representation at Convention shall also be entitled to one alternate delegate. An alternate delegate shall only be permitted voice and vote at Convention while replacing a delegate from the same chartered organization and while in possession of that delegate’s badge.

6.7 In the case of Local Unions chartered after the end of the previous fiscal year in the case of regular Conventions, or subsequent to the issue of the convention call in the case of Special Conventions, and in the case of recently transferred Local Unions or other special circumstances, the Credentials Committee shall be empowered to accept credentials on the recommendation of the National Executive Board. This information shall then be given to the Convention for final approval. No organization, in arrears for two (2) or more months, will be allowed representation to the National Convention or conventions at any other level of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

6.8(a) No person shall be recognized as a delegate who is not a member in good standing of his/her chartered Local, or the District Council, Provincial Division, Service Division, or Council of Unions to which the Local is affiliated. To be recognized as a delegate, full-time elected officer(s) or appointed official(s) of Locals, Councils and Divisions must have been a member in good standing of a Canadian Union of Public Employees Local Union and under the collective agreement of that Local Union at the time of being elected or appointed to office. This provision shall apply equally to the delegates to District Councils, Provincial Divisions and Service Divisions of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

(b) Members holding Life Membership Cards or Honorary Retiring Cards do not qualify to be delegates under this section.”

Resolutions and Proposed Constitutional Amendments

Please note that July 7, 2009 was the deadline date for the submission of resolutions and proposed constitutional amendments. Further resolutions received will be considered as “late resolutions” and will be dealt with in accordance with Article 6.11(b) of the CUPE Constitution. A copy of all resolutions and proposed constitutional amendments properly submitted in accordance with Article 6.11(a) will be forwarded to all chartered organizations by September 4, 2009.

Credentials

Chartered organizations will receive after July 7 the credential(s) assigned to them as well as an alternate delegate registration form. The duplicate copy of each form is to be returned to the CUPE national office no later than August 21, 2009, together with the $185 registration fee. The original copy is to be retained by the delegate (or alternate) for presentation at registration in Montréal. (Please note that each chartered organization is entitled to register one alternate delegate only.)

You should notify national office of any change in delegate(s) or alternate prior to the opening of the national convention. If prior notification cannot be given, the replacing delegate (or alternate) should then have in his/her possession, at the time of registration at convention, a letter from the chartered organization (signed by the president and secretary) outlining the change.

Election candidates

CUPE’s policy adopted at the 2003 national convention restricts campaign material for candidates standing for election to one pre-convention leaflet and one convention leaflet, poster and button.

Delegates standing for election may obtain CUPE’s policy by presenting themselves at CUPE’s on-site convention office.

Hotel reservations

The hotel reservation form lists the hotels where accommodation can be acquired for the convention. W.E. Travel is in charge of coordinating the bookings for CUPE delegates and you will receive confirmation directly from the hotel which has accepted your reservation(s). If you have not yet made your hotel arrangements, please ensure the directions on the back of the enclosed form are followed.

Delegates with a disability

The CUPE National Executive Board (NEB) has adopted a policy to ensure that members with disabilities do not face barriers to participation at national convention or at national events. At its March 2009 meeting the NEB passed a policy to pay 100 per cent of the additional costs directly related to necessary equipment, or to the assistance of a personal attendant, required by a delegate with a disability for the duration of the conference or convention. All other costs related to delegates’ participation to the national convention or national event remain the responsibility of the chartered organization they are representing.

In order that we may accommodate the special needs of a disabled delegate, please complete the Access and services for persons with disabilities form and return it, with the credential, by August 21.

Child care arrangements

ON-SITE: Child care facilities will be made available during the convention proceedings. The Child care arrangements for convention delegates form is to be completed by the delegate(s) requiring such facilities, and must be received by the national office no later than August 21, 2009, together with a cheque to cover the required fee of $150 per child. Because our children’s programs are set up in advance of convention, it is not possible to accommodate registrations made after that date, nor will refunds be possible.

AT-HOME: Article 6.3(c) of the CUPE Constitution provides for a subsidy to offset at-home child care costs to a maximum of $50 per day per delegate. Requests for this subsidy should be made by the local union following convention. The enclosed application must be completed and received by the National Secretary-Treasurer no later than December 9, 2009.

Claude Généreux

National Secretary-Treasurer
Canadian Union of Public Employees
1375 St. Laurent Blvd.
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 0Z7

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