Candace Rennick | CUPE’s National Secretary-Treasurer
When Justin Trudeau announced he would be stepping down earlier this year, Canada entered a new political era. The upcoming federal election will present a choice to Canadians.
With the support of unions and community groups, the NDP made historic gains while the Liberals were in power, winning anti-scab legislation, pharmacare and dental care.
We stand to lose these gains if the Conservatives form the next government. From health care to child care to social housing, Pierre Poilievre has attacked every federal program that aims to make the lives of workers, children, families and retirees better. He is anti-worker and anti-union.
But a Conservative government is not inevitable. We must act together, before, during and after the election. We must join with others to build a powerful coalition of resistance and refuse to cede any ground.
CUPE is up for this challenge. We bring 750,000 members, incredible diversity, community ties and determination to win progressive change. Our membership is growing, and we are mightier than we have been at any time in our history.
CUPE’s revenue comes almost entirely from members’ dues, and we are committed to putting every penny of those dues to work for members. CUPE’s 2025 budget is all about making our union more inclusive, more effective, and more powerful.
This year, we expect a significant increase in revenue, and we are directing that new money to expand existing initiatives and build new programs, including adding a record number of new CUPE staff.
We want to draw down CUPE’s Defence Fund surplus and use the money for initiatives that defend the interests of our members and ensure that locals have access to more support and services.
We are increasing support for local campaigns to give locals the tools they need to defend all we have won for working people over 60 years of struggle.
We are directing funding to consolidate CUPE’s bargaining power, to strengthen our existing bargaining councils, and establish new ones.
Funding is also earmarked for a new intensive leadership program for members, and to support and expand our initiatives to create a safer union for all members, leaders and staff.
CUPE’s budget is designed not just to protect our members’ interests, but also to advance them. It’s going to be an uphill battle given the political times we live in, and funding is being directed to political action, including adding staff in every region across the country, to amplify our impact in upcoming elections.
We are going to be spending a lot of money. And I am proud to stand behind this budget, because I believe that members’ dues should be used for members’ benefit, not stashed in a bank collecting interest.
We’re in for a tough year, but we will get through it. We’ll have each other’s backs, we’ll refuse to be paralysed by fear or anger or despair, and we’ll keep moving forward.
