Delegates gave their strong support to a plan to ensure CUPE has the resources to back members on the picket line.
Convention created a new National Strike Fund, agreeing that six per cent of per capita would be set aside for strike pay and benefits, and to fund strike-averting campaigns and interest arbitrations for locals without the right to strike. Four per cent of per capita will go to the National Defence Fund supporting cost-shared, national and major organizing campaigns.
Resolutions were also passed to extend the Defence Fund Levy and the Solidarity Levy in order to assure support for an increasing number of longer strikes. The Defence Fund Levy will now kick in whenever the strike fund falls below $15 million, and remain in effect until the strike fund reaches $25 million. The Solidarity Levy will remain in effect until October 2003, or until the strike fund reaches $15 million, whichever comes first.