CUPE 4627 - 2007NatlConv


	Wed. Sept. 20, 2012 4:30 pm Downtown Room 240

Posted November 16, 2007

Reports from CUPE National Convention
October 15 - 17, 2007 - Toronto, Ontario

The following reports were submitted by CUPE Local 4627 members as part of the Unions policy to update the Executive and interested members about Conferences attended by their peers.

Report submitted by: Lorna Brown -
The delegates were called to convention by the beating of native drums. Not everybody's choice of music early on a Monday morning. The centre was set up in blocks of chairs and we made our way close to the front of the room and sat just in front of the CUPE 15 delegates.

The agenda had numerous resolutions some of which were almost identical that were combined into a comprehensive resolution for the throng to vote on. Voting only occurred after numerous people attempted to voice their position at the various mikes (3 pro and 3 con). It was quite amazing the number of people who went to the mike to get their convention t-shirt from being first time speaker/first time convention attendee and then proceeded to veer the discussion onto whatever their issue happened to be.

From the huge number of resolutions there were only a very few that were concluded with a vote. A huge group of Ontario delegates lost a vote on the Thursday afternoon and then proceeded to attempt to stop the business of the convention by removing themselves from the floor of the convention. It was quite amazing to see the success of this strong arm move by some of the Ontario delegates.

Besides the many boring minutes spent listening to people speak off topic it was a very interesting week viewing the work and direction our national union has chosen.

Report submitted by: Daniel W -
I went to this year's CUPE National Convention as a regular delegate. As per our local's practice I'll try and fill in my fellow members about the goings on at convention. I'll confess right up front that of all the things in the world that I'm good at (not many), note taking, report writing are NOT two of them. So that being said. With your forgiveness, I'll direct you to the CUPE National Website for the general stuff (sorry, but they did a better job than I could) . . .

http://www.cupe.ca/convention

. . . however, there is (was) an event that didn't make its way into the National Websites that I feel that you should be aware of. On the Thursday, one of the many resolutions that come to convention was debated and failed. The issue that this resolution represents has a large impact on the overall state of our union. Simply put here's the issue.

The Ontario membership of CUPE National makes up a big percentage of the union (just like Canada in general, Ontario figures prominently) Anyway, a large part of the Ontario Membership is in the Healthcare sector. In Ontario, the Provincial Government has (I don't have the specifics, I'm relying on the speeches and discussion from the floor) basically outlawed strike action by this section of our union. The Ontario delegation put forward a motion that would allow them to use very specifically, the National Strike Fund for bargaining campaigns that don't result in strikes, since it's against the law for them to strike. Ultimately this resolution was defeated by the delegates at the convention. The major rational being used was that any need for this type of activity can and should be funded out other funds within the CUPE budget. The Ontario Delegates point was that they felt they are obligated to contribute to the Strike Fund but now, unable to access it.
After failing to pass this motion, the Ontario Delegation expressed their strong disappointment and openly questioned whether or not they (remember they are a very large percentage of both members and dues contribution to National) could continue to remain a part of CUPE and left the convention floor. So large is the Ontario delegation that without their presence on the final day of convention, no "official" work was able to get done due to the lack of a quorum under Nationals Constitution.

Although we certainly don't seem to be in an internal democratic crisis at this point. I think we all should be aware of this and not discount the possibility of this happening. Remember we, split off from a larger group just 4 years ago.

I encourage all members to check both out local website and Nationals for up to date information about all things CUPE.



	CUPE Local 4627 All Day Exec. Meeting Thurs. June 14 Broadway Campus 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Room 5043 CUPE Local 4627 Executive Meeting Tues. Aug. 14 Broadway Campus at 4:30 p.m. Room 5043 CUPE Local 4627 Executive Meeting Thurs. Sept. 20 Downtown Campus at 4:30 p.m. Room 107 CUPE Local 4627 General Meeting Wed. Sept. 20, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. Downtown Campus Room 240 Please make a point to attend - you could WIN $462.70! CUPE Local 4627 Executive Meeting Thurs. Oct. 18 Broadway Campus at 4:30 p.m. Room 5043 CUPE Local 4627 Executive Meeting Tues. Nov. 20 Downtown Campus at 4:30 p.m. Room 107 CUPE Local 4627 All Day Exec. Meeting Wed. Dec. 12 Broadway Campus 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Room 1227