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The National Executive Board met in Ottawa June 21-23, 2005.
Resolution on Bill C-38 – Equal Marriage
The National Executive Board called on
all CUPE divisions, councils, locals, and members to urgently contact
their Members of Parliament to immediately pass Bill C-38 before
Parliament stands down for summer recess and has issued an immediate
press release to this effect.
The federal government lobby was to
ensure that the Conservatives’ tactics did not delay this important
legislation which will end years of discrimination against gay and
lesbian couples. Please check the cupe.ca website for more information.
Americanization of Canada – Deep Integration
Maude Barlow, President of the Council
of Canadians, was invited to give a presentation to NEB members
on deep integration with the U.S. She talked about the quiet but
very real threat to Canada seceding many of its regulations to meet
the United States criteria on important social issues such as health
and safety, environment, immigration, border security, refugee and
defence policy.
She is currently working under tight
deadlines to release a book entitled “Too
Close For Comfort” which depicts the big business lobby in
Canada successfully campaigning for a North American common market
and the harmonizing of every aspect of our two regulatory regimes.
2005 CUPE National Convention
Various issues regarding National
Convention planning were reviewed by the Board, and it is with
incredible excitement that members crafted and endorsed a resolution
calling for the expansion of the NEB to include five (5) women
vice-president positions.
In addition, another resolution calls
for the establishment of a Task Force to:
- Gather a statistical profile of
women’s representation at all levels of our Union; - A review of CUPE’s education
program and support for women; - Consultation on women’s equality
issues and needs; - Receive advice on possible changes
to CUPE structures to recognize the diversity of women.
The resolution in its entirety can be
found on our cupe.ca website, along with other resolutions endorsed
by the NEB on important issues such as health care, child care,
living wages, benefits, and others.
Our Union – Getting Stronger and Stronger
The National Office Building
Project calls for the construction of a new building. It was
agreed that retrofitting the current National Office building would
not be a good investment and would still fall short of the growing
and specific needs of our Union. Board members endorsed the proposed
plan to seek a new site for CUPE.
NEB members also received presentations
from the CUPE National Trustees on their 2004 National Trustees
Report; approved 2004 Audited Financial Statements,
from auditors Deloitte Touche; and an expanded presentation from
Ecklers Consultants on a proposed new CUPE Investment Policy.
Many thanks to all of them for their dedication and for providing an
opportunity for a full and direct debate.
CUPE members will want to review a
summary of the scope of our Union’s International Work.
The report tabled with NEB members attempts to capture the many
areas of activities and is available on CUPE’s website.
Welcome
Welcome to Brother Danny Légère,
who attended his first official NEB meeting as Regional
Vice-President for New Brunswick, and congratulations to Brother
Randy Millage who has recently been appointed as Ontario Assistant
Regional Director.