Our National Executive Board met in Ottawa June 13-15, 2023, with some members joining virtually. 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 of our CUPE family. Remembered were: Steve Seekins, Local 374, workplace fatality; Patrick Olson, Local 5430; Christy Storrs, Local 1825; Gérald Gauthier, Local 375; Ray Enns, Local 1719; Dennis Mol, Local 30; Shareen Witt, staff; Gilles Hamelin, retired staff; Beverley Buck, retired staff; Gilles Giguère, retired staff.
2023 National Convention
The Board discussed the upcoming National Convention, being held in Québec City from October 23 27, 2023.
The deadline for chartered organizations to submit resolutions and constitutional amendments is fast approaching! They must be received at national office no later than July 25. This is also the deadline for nominations for CUPE’s national awards. More information about convention, the awards, and how to draft and submit resolutions and amendments can be found here.
Watch your inbox for the official convention call, with credentials, which will be sent in the last week of July.
Anti-Racism Strategy
The NEB received an update on the work underway to implement CUPE’s Anti-Racism Strategy adopted at our 2021 National Convention. The report highlighted the important progress that has been made on the four goals that have been prioritized for 2022-2023: Representation (goal 2); Education (goal 3); Bargaining (goal 6), and; Data Collection (goal 8).
The Strategy provide a comprehensive six-year road map for challenging and dismantling systemic racism in our members’ workplaces, our union and our communities. A progress report will be provided to delegates at our National Convention this fall.
Safe Union Spaces
The Safe Union Spaces Working Group (SUSWG) reported to the NEB on ongoing work to set up CUPE’s planned Sexual Harassment and Gender-based Violence Prevention and Support Office. The intention is to have the office operational early in 2024. Other work is ongoing, including assessment of staffing needs, training, review of pre-event planning and existing ombudsperson programme, as well as policy work.
Global Justice Fund
The Annual General Meeting of CUPE’s Global Justice Fund was held on June 15, 2023. The meeting adopted the 2022 financial statements, and approved the renewal of twelve projects at a total cost of $175,000.
These projects are sponsored by the Fund and individual CUPE locals and divisions and are undertaken in partnership with workers’ and women’s organizations in countries around the world, including Cuba, Guatemala, Haiti, and the Philippines.
2022 Audited Financial Statements
Deloitte, our external auditing firm, presented the 2022 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.
Trustees’ Report
On June 9, CUPE’s National Trustees (Donna Van Kroonenburg, Christian Trudeau, Luc Cyr, Bob Guenther, and Talitha Dekker) completed their 2022 Trustees’ Report of CUPE’s finances, which was presented to the Board. They found the union’s finances to be in good order. They congratulated the National Officers on their efforts during the last year and thanked the staff for making all documents available during the audit.
Financial Support
The National Executive Board approved 30 cost-shared campaign requests totaling $1,571,244.05, seven requests for legal and arbitration support totaling $154,350, and two requests for legal support through the strike fund to preserve collective bargaining rights in the amount of $200,000.
