Newsletters

Dear CSRA members,  Elections for a new executive to begin a three-year term on January 1, 2026 are now complete. We are pleased to welcome the following:  New Executive Committee President - Humberto Da Silva Vice President - Andrew Huculak Treasurer - Leanne MacMillan Secretary - Beverley Norman  New Chapter Representatives BC - Susan Zander Alberta - Judy Barry Saskatchewan - Vacant Manitoba - Carmelle Chartier Ontario - Shalom Schachter

Greetings CUPE Retirees, What a time we are in. We’re watching to the south of us where not only have public sector workers faced wholesale firings, but have also seen their collective bargaining rights — indeed their right to belong to a union — stripped away. And that’s not the half of it.  Our very existence as a nation is in the crosshairs. By the time you receive this newsletter, we should be getting close to a federal election day that will shape our country for the next few years at least.

CSRA Newsletter October 2024 Greetings Sisters & Brothers, It’s been some months since we’ve sent out a newsletter. Things have been fairly quiet around the CUPE Staff Retirees Association. It’s fair to say that when we hear from members, it’s mostly with questions and concerns about benefits. Happily, there have been some in-person meetings. Our Vice-President Shelly Gordon attended a meeting of about 18 British Columbia members in April. Thanks to Chapter Representative Susan Zander for organizing.

Greetings Sisters and Brothers, We’re starting to feel some stirrings of spring in southern Ontario, where this is being written. But should we welcome it or worry that the early warm weather is just another instance of the strange winter many of us have been experiencing? The good news out of this winter comes in the form of a new federal dental care program. While we’re not directly affected, thanks to the benefits that many of you helped to win, just about everyone knows family or friends who will benefit and get care that they may have been putting off.

CSRA Newsletter - October 31, 2023 Subject: Fraud Prevention Webinar and More from Your CUPE Staff Retirees Association Dear Sisters and Brothers, Mark your calendar now for a new webinar on fraud prevention presented by your CUPE Staff Retirees Association and CUMIS, the insurance company for our credit union. With so many scams coming through email, texts, web sites and even real estate fraud, this webinar will provide tips and reminders for recognizing fraud.

News from your CUPE Staff Retirees Association May 2023  Greetings Sisters and Brothers,  Spring is time for renewal and we’re doing that with some of our CSRA practices. At our first executive meeting of the year, our new treasurer Leanne MacMillan recommended that we move toward electronic banking. This will allow new members to e-transfer their membership fee when they submit their retirement documents rather than having to send a cheque.

News from the CUPE Staff Retirees Association July 2023 Sisters and Brothers, We intended to have a short early summer newsletter, but there’s a lot happening! Please take a few minutes to read right through. Benefits We’d like to remind everyone again that most dental work requires a pre-determination. Be sure your dentist’s office submits that before work is done. Also, it’s worth checking before you order prescription glasses, hearing aids or other devices that GSC will cover the charges from your supplier.

News from Your CUPE Staff Retirees Association Seasons Greetings Sisters and Brothers, Your CSRA Executive Committee and Board held a transitional meeting in late November to wrap up the current term and get ready for the new one that begins January 1, 2023. Our outgoing treasurer, Barry Thorsteinson handed the books over to Leanne MacMillan. Many thanks to Barry and also to Andrew Huculak for standing for election as well as for his work over the years as a chapter representative.

CSRA Newsletter Summer 2022 Dear Sisters and Brothers, Has the CSRA Call for Nominations arrived in your mail box? Many thanks to Carole Lefebvre, Berni Conn and Danielle Jennings and the print and mail room crews at CUPE National for getting it all in the mail. The term for all positions on the Association executive ends December 31. You can nominate any member in good standing, including yourself. Just be sure to get your nomination form in the mail by July 25.

CSRA Newsletter Winter 2022 February 20, 2022 Dear Sisters and Brothers, We hope things are looking up where you are after a difficult winter with the setbacks caused by Omicron and all the accompanying conflict. The good news is your CUPE Staff Retirees Association had a good, forward-looking executive meeting in late January with most regional chapter reps in attendance. We were joined by our pension plan retiree trustee Nancy Parker, alternate trustee Brian Edgecombe, and CSU retiree rep Cheryl Colborne who all provided useful information that you’ll see reflected in this longer than usual newsletter.