CONVENTION 2013

50 YEARS OF CUPE
REMEMBERING THE PAST, BUILDING THE FUTURE

March 20-22 Fort McMurray, Alberta

PAUL MOIST: CUPE MUST FIGHT THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM

National President Paul Moist used his address to Alberta convention delegates to warn that a concerted attack on workers and unions is getting closer to Canadian borders and should concern CUPE. The Canadian race-to-thebottom has been visible for all to see, said Moist. The elimination of trade union rights in places as close to home as Wisconsin and Michigan, the birthplace of the American Labour movement means our time is here. Moist pointed to recent actions by the Harper government, including the legislating away of bargaining rights to Air Canada, Canada Post and CP Rail workers, the increasing of the age to receive Old Age Security to 67, the right of companies to pay temporary foreign workers 15% less than standard rates, and the reduction of Employment Insurance benets as signs of whats to come. The Conservatives plan to introduce a Canadian version of right-to-work, said Moist. And we must recognize what we face. A dismantling of the social safety our parents and grandparents struggled to build. Moist said the only way to counter the attack was to do what CUPE does best: talk to our members face to face. The separation between us as

leaders and our members is our greatest challenge, said Moist. We need to learn from those who built our union. We need to approach our members with respect and humility. Calling for closer ties to the NDP, Moist rejected the suggestion that Leader Tom Mulcair wants to shut down the oilsands. Moist say that the NDP, like the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union, are advocating an increase in domestic reneries, creating jobs in Canada, rather than shipping those jobs to Texas.

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Charles Fleury: CUPE prepared to ght back

CUPE National SecretaryTreasurer Charles Fleury told delegates the key nancial priority for CUPE over the next year would be member mobilization and ghting back against the attack on workers and their unions. Fleury announced the creation of a permanent Fight Back Fund, which will be used specically to ght legislation that attacks collective agreements. The fund was rst used to support Ontario school board workers in their ght against an imposed collective agreement. With Stephen Harper getting ready to bring in legislation that could make union dues optional, and any number of provincial politicians wishing to do the same thing, we know that the Ontario ghtback is just the beginning, said Fleury. Fleury also highlighted the added demands on locals for bookkeeping and reporting that may happen as a result of Bill C-377. They pretend to protect the interests of workers but really are designed to make it difcult for us to continue operating and to stop our political activity, said Fleury. Fleury emphasized that between the Fight Back Fund to address legislative attacks and our strong National Strike Fund, CUPE was prepared to respond to attacks on the horizon. No CUPE member will ever have to stand down from a picket line because the union cant support their strike, said Fleury. Fleury closed by telling delegates that the most important thing trade unions can do to ght attacks on workers is to keep members informed and involved.

Gil McGowan: There is an alternative to Redfords cuts

e President of the Alberta Federation of Labour told delegates Alison Redford broke her promises to the province in order to protect the low tax rates of the richest and most powerful. Alison Redford told us she would be a di erent kind of Conservative, said McGowan. She would champion education, and she was a critic of Ralph Klein. ose promises now lie tattered on the oor. McGowan said that with Albertas economy running at top speed, there is no need for the government to run a de cit. Weve been told the economy is slowing down and spending is out of control. ese are untruths. Unemployment is half the Canadian average, job creation is three times the national rate, and corporate pro ts have increased by 300% over last decade. So why does Alberta have huge de cits? According to McGowan, the answer doesnt have to do with spending or a weak economy. e reason is irresponsible tax and royalty policies over the last 20 years. ey made the cupboard bare by giving away our resources as a source of revenue. McGowan said that in Peter Lougheeds day, government collected about 40% of energy revenue for the provincial government, and that the gure is closer to 10% today. Polls commissioned by the AFL show high support for higher taxes on high income earners, and higher royalty rates for energy.