Our National Executive Board (NEB) met a number of times by videoconference over the summer in order to monitor and discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our members and our union.
The regular September meeting was also held by videoconference, from September 22 to 24, 2020. These are the highlights of their deliberations and decisions.
In Memory
The NEB observed a minute of silence to reflect upon the loss of members in our CUPE family. Remembered were: Stuart Nanabush, Local 416; Anthony Richards, Local 1190; Ray Charles Macmillan, Local 8920; Natalie Dempsey, Local 8920; Kurtis Cleaveley, Local 1000; Cathy Lynn Cooke, Local 1472; Bob Davies, Local 498; Tonya Sweetapple, Local 2559; Timothy Cline, Local 110; John Dodic, Local 416; Glenna Casavechia, Local 4814; Kristine Taggart, active staff, Red Deer Area Office; Shirley Mannion, retired staff; Sheila Mantell, retired staff; Roger Laramée, retired staff; Joan Blacquier, retired staff; Joseph Mele, retired staff; Ruby Chisholm, retired staff; Catherine Cheeseman, retired staff.
Global Pandemic
The meeting took place six months after the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic; since that time, CUPE has faced new challenges around every corner. NEB members discussed how our members, activists, leaders, and staff worked tirelessly to ensure that our communities continued to be cared for, to have access to the services they need, all the while protecting the rights of our members as they provide these critical frontline services. The Board members also discussed how to move forward in this new reality and plans to continue fighting vicious attacks from right wing governments across the country.
2019 Audited Financial Statements
Deloitte, our external auditing firm, presented the 2019 audited financial statements for our General Fund, our National Strike Fund, and our National Defence Fund. All three funds were found to be in strong, stable shape. CUPE’s accounting and administrative systems were found to exceed the standard requirements.
Trustees’ Report
CUPE’s National Trustees presented the 2019 Trustees’ Report of CUPE National’s finances. This year’s audit meeting took place at the CUPE National Office in Ottawa and virtually online, from August 31 to September 4, 2020. Two Trustees worked on site in Ottawa and one joined virtually. They had the opportunity to meet with CUPE’s National President and National Secretary-Treasurer to review and discuss last year’s Trustees’ Report, and met with external auditors and external actuaries, which was all done via videoconference this year.
To perform their audit, the Trustees had access to the minutes of all National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings and all National Executive Board (NEB) meetings, as well as the draft financial statements dated December 31, 2019 for the General Fund, the National Defence Fund, and the National Strike Fund. They reviewed files on per capita payments and arrears, National Strike and Defence Funds, National Defence Fund expenses, actuarial valuations of the CUPE Employees’ Pension Plan (CEPP), postemployment and post-retirement benefit plans for 2019, and many other documents deemed necessary for their audit.
Following their extensive review, they found the books to be in excellent order.
Financial Support
The National Executive Board approved 10 cost-share campaign requests totaling $656,731.24, and 10 requests for legal and arbitration support were approved, totaling $640,000.00.
