• Joint health and safety committees are not properly engaged in pandemic planning and worker protection; and • We need to ensure that the right to refuse unsafe work will prevail where there is no proper direction, protocol, education and personal protective equipment.
Resolution 292 covering resolution 293 submitted by CUPE Saskatchewan and Local 3550, Alberta: CUPE NATIONAL WILL: Facilitate and provide improved resources to ensure that there is a proper networking system in place to educate and communicate with CUPE pension activists who sit on registered pension plans as either a trustee or member of a pension advisory board.
The committee’s recommendation is one of concurrence, and I so move. (M/S S. Cathcart, L. MacKay – Carried)
BECAUSE:
Resolution 303 submitted by CUPE British Columbia and Local 15, British Columbia:
• CUPE delegates at the last National Convention passed the Strategic Directions Program targeting that all CUPE members would bargain a pension plan by 2013; and • CUPE advocates that all pension plans should be in a jointly trustee-defined benefit plan; and • Currently, resources for these pension activists are limited; we need to ensure our members have unionbased pension training and access to resources as needed; and • The d eci s i o n s these trustees/committee members make determine the retirement benefits of our members; and • We need to ensure that all of our members have the ability to retire with dignity.
CUPE NATIONAL WILL: Develop and launch a multilingual campaign across the country from community to community to encourage and assist Canadians to register with Elections Canada in order to vote in general elections. BECAUSE: • Voter turnout in the 2008 general election dropped to the lowest percentage of registered voters ever recorded for a national election in Canada at 58.8%; and • CUPE has a long history of promoting and standing up for democracy in our country; and • Higher voter turnouts in elections assist in electing progressive governments; and • One in fifty-seven Canadians is a CUPE member.
The committee’s recommendation is one of concurrence, and I so move. (M/S J. Ravary, J. Atwater – Carried) Resolution 277 submitted by the Hospital Employees’ Union, British Columbia:
The committee’s recommendation is one of concurrence, and I so move.
CUPE NATIONAL WILL: (M/S S. Landry, B. Clancy – Carried) Coordinate a strategic plan to create awareness on the need for pandemic planning at all local levels. The plan will include a kit with information on the transmission of disease; obtaining and using appropriate personal, protective equipment; workers' rights, including the right to refuse unsafe work and the importance of involving joint health and safety committees. The plan will also address the need to lobby government and employers to ensure that CUPE members are provided with full information, education, protective equipment and clear protocols.
Resolution 142 submitted by the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions: CUPE NATIONAL WILL: Undertake a national campaign involving the health care and school sectors, farmers and environmental groups to produce and serve healthy food grown locally.
BECAUSE:
BECAUSE:
• Local unions are looking for clear and precise information on pandemics; and • Employers are not providing sufficient information to front line workers; and
• In the United Kingdom, there is an excellent campaign to produce and serve healthy food using local ingredients, prepared by school matrons in the educational system; and
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