the past two years, over 50 campaigns and initiatives were underway or completed by every provincial division, as well as national initiatives. Major resistance against privatization and support for public services is taking place in every sector of our union. See Appendix “A”, on page 30 for a summary of campaigns and actions.
CUPE’s Hydro-Québec locals held a two-day conference on wind energy and underlined their support for public wind energy development. CUPE Ontario with the Council of Canadians held a province-wide tour to encourage bans on bottled water in municipal and provincial facilities. CUPE continues to defend public water and to connect water activists; plans are well underway for a November Blue Summit to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Water Watch.
CUPE National has undertaken a major national polling and focus groups initiative to explore attitudes toward privatization, to fine-tune our messages opposing privatization and most importantly, our positive messages of support for public services.
A national tour across Canada to highlight the importance of in-house cleaners in reducing the incidence of health care associated infections was held in May 2009.
A database is in development to track and evaluate our successes and challenges, and will provide us with useful case studies. A map of threats and campaign strategies by sector is helping us to connect campaigns to our priorities.
Fighting back against bad trade deals Together with community groups, national organizations and private sector unions, CUPE continues to resist a number of trade deals that threaten our national resources, good paying jobs and public services in our communities.
CUPE is compiling resources that make the case for public services. Some examples include the following and can be found on division websites and on the CUPE website:
CUPE commissioned and released legal opinions on the constitutionally of the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) in B.C. and Alberta.
In Alberta, locals can draw on a package of information that makes the infrastructure;
case
for
publicly
financed
CUPE commissioned an analysis of Canadian trade agreements found in the report State of Play: Canada's Internal Free Trade Agenda.
CUPE Nova Scotia is supporting its campaign against privatization with a website that encourages visitors to get the facts on privatization, including several Canadian P3s gone wrong;
CUPE sent representation to Washington D.C. to participate with labour activists, legislators and academics from all over North America to organize against the National American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP).
SCFP-Québec’s campaign website encourages Québec taxpayers not to fall into the P3 trap and includes short video and radio ads;
CUPE’s two-minute “The Domino Effect” video on the power of collective action against P3s and other privatization is available to all locals and progressive organizations.
CUPE formed part of two North American delegations with energy sector unions and civil society organizations, first in New Orleans and again in Mexico City, to develop a common vision of energy security in North America and to confront SPP.
Union Development revised the weeklong course on privatization and has delivered numerous sessions. Our Best Line of Defence: Taking on Privatization at the Bargaining Table is now available as resource for CUPE staff and members.
CUPE took a strong stance against the Premiers’ decision to use NAFTA-like dispute mechanisms in the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT).
More than 200 people gathered in Saint John, New Brunswick at a conference on public-private partnerships, organized by CUPE New Brunswick.
CUPE New Brunswick, CUPE Nova Scotia and the Council of Canadians joined forces to oppose a deal between the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick on the Partnership on Regulation and Economy.
A major research project is underway as part of an antiprivatization campaign to fight back big-box store and privatized child care.
Concerted lobbying efforts by CUPE, the Canadian Labour Congress and other organizations have resulted
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