Our National Executive Board met September 12 - 14, 2017 in Ottawa. These are the highlights of their deliberations and decisions.
In Memory
The National Executive Board (NEB) observed a minute of silence to reflect upon
the loss of members in our CUPE family. Remembered were: Brother Tyson Titanich, Local 2515; Sister Stephanie Baron, Local 7575; Sister Carmie Erikson, Local 5050; Sister Susan Shiner, Local 3017; Sister Janet Bigelow, Local 1048; Sister Cheryl Mason, Local 1260 (retired); Brother Mike Tracey, Local 786 (retired); Sister Penny Reed, Local 1287 (retired); Brother Stephen Edwards, retired staff, Manitoba Regional Office; Sister Antonette Roberts, retired staff, BC Regional Office; and Sister Mildred Beckstead, retired staff, Trail Area Office.
Brother Hancock advised that two members of our staff, Brother Jean-Marc Bézaire and Brother Jeff Lawson, are critically ill, and asked the NEB to keep them and their families in their thoughts.
Canadian Health Coalition
Adrienne Silnicki, National Coordinator of the Canadian Health Coalition, joined the NEB on Tuesday afternoon and provided an update on various campaigns underway, including their campaign for a national public drug plan (Pharmacare) and the fight against creeping privatization of our public health care system, with a current focus on blood and plasma donations, and diagnostic testing like MRIs and CT scans. She also provided an update on the intervention by the BC Health Coalition in the Dr. Brian Day case against our public health care system which is currently before the BC Supreme Court.
NAFTA
The NEB heard from CUPE staff member, Sister Archana Rampure, who is working on the Trade file. Further to the NEB resolution on NAFTA adopted at the June meeting, Sister Rampure provided an update on the ongoing renegotiation of the North America Free Trade agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the US.
Regional Vice-President (PEI)
Brother Leonard Crawford joined the NEB as the new Regional Vice-President representing Prince Edward Island, having been elected by the NEB from the nominations received from the chartered organizations in that province. Brother Crawford was sworn in at the start of the meeting.
National Convention
The NEB reviewed the program and events being planned for the upcoming National Convention in Toronto, approved convention committees, and had extensive discussions about two documents to be presented to delegates for consideration: the 2017 – 2019 Strategic Directions paper and an Organizing Plan.
Outgoing Members of the NEB
The NEB recognized the contribution of four NEB members who will not be re-offering at convention: Brother Wayne Lucas, RVP for Newfoundland and Labrador; Sister Odette Robichaud, RVP for New Brunswick; Brother Henri Giroux, RVP for Northern Ontario; and Brother David Graham, RVP for Alberta.
Humanitarian Support
The NEB approved a special contribution of $50,000 to three organizations providing direct support to victims of the BC wildfires that raged across that province for most of the summer: United Way of Northern BC; United Way of Thompson – Nicola; and the BC Wildfires Fund of the BC Food Bank.
2017 Budget Amendment
In light of not having to make a special payment to the Employees’ Pension Plan in 2018 to address solvency concerns, and with solid financial results for the first six months of 2017, Brother Fleury was pleased to introduce a motion to amend the 2017 budget in order to convert the 11 temporary positions in the General Fund to permanent positions. The motion was unanimously adopted by the NEB. All positions have now been posted.
Financial Support
The National Executive Board approved 13 cost-share campaign requests totaling $870,440.43 and nine requests for legal and arbitration support totaling $480,000.
