CRA Newsletter October 31, 2023
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.
Date: Friday, November 24, 2023
1:00 pm English
2:00 pm French
The webinar will be presented via Zoom. We will send a link closer to the date so keep an eye out for the email.
Member Meeting, CUPE National Convention
The large number of retirees invited to CUPE’s first post-pandemic, in-person convention made it the perfect venue to meet with members on Tuesday, October 24. More than 50 members from across the country were in the room with close to 10 online. (Lesson learned: start planning Zoom access earlier.)
Nancy Parker, retiree representative on the pension Joint Board of Trustees, presented a thorough report explaining the process for setting the CPI increase each year. One important piece of information: as a result of the indexing error found in this year’s audit, in the future we won’t see an increase in benefits until the fall after the audit is completed.
Tracy Glynn, Canadian Health Coalition, presented the current campaign for universal pharmacare. Thanks to all our efforts in years past, CUPE retirees have full benefits, but we all have friends or family who are not so fortunate and struggle to afford their medications. There’s a need to act quickly. As the federal Liberals prepare legislation, you can send a letter at [pharmacare.canadianlabour.ca/]{.underline}**. Sign on to the Coalition’s Health & Hope 2025 campaign at [healthcoalition.ca/project/healthhope-2025/]{.underline}**.
We also heard from Michael MacIsaac, president of the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada. Our association is a CURC affiliate. Individual memberships are also available. CURC has several priorities including the CUPW campaign for senior check-ins by letter carriers, working with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities on creating senior-friendly communities, and joining with other organizations to promote the creation of a UN declaration on the rights of older persons. More information is available at **[unionretiree.ca]{.underline}**.
The current plan by the United Conservative party in Alberta to leave the Canada Pension Plan and go it alone was explained by our Treasurer Leanne MacMillan, who participated recently in a call with unions. This is a grave threat to all Canadians outside of Quebec, which has its own longstanding pension plan, yet it really is up to Albertans themselves to counter their provincial government. For the rest of us, we can do our best to defend the CPP in our own circles.
We reported on our interest in continuing to promote regional member meetings either in person or online. We’ll provide the logistical and financial support that we can.
Finally, there were some good interventions on the need to maintain active communication among ourselves and with all the staff unions to ensure that retiree interests are not forgotten.
Time for fun
The day continued with recognition of retirees on the convention floor in the afternoon and ended with a reception in a room with a beautiful view of Quebec and the St. Lawrence River. Thanks to the Canadian Staff Union for its financial support of the reception. President Vickie Houston and the table officers brought greetings. She also explained that the usual retiree lunch at convention did not happen this year simply because of the lack of suitable rooms. CUPE’s growth may well mean that Quebec City can no longer accommodate a national convention.
CSU Bursary
For retired CSU members, the deadline to apply for a 2023-24 bursary for your children or grandchildren is December 7. If you did not receive the notice from CSU, it means they don’t have your email address. You can send your contact information to Retiree Representative Cheryl Colborne at [retiree@csu-scp.ca]{.underline} with authorization for her to forward it to CSU.
Important contacts
For news in between our CSRA newsletters, sign up on Facebook to the [CUPE Retirees]{.underline} group or to [Retraitées et retraités du SCFP]{.underline}.
Pensions Includes changes of address, other personal information as well as pension matters:
Nathalie Lavictoire [nlavictoire@cupe.ca]{.underline}, 613-212-4251
Benefits Fanie Corriveau-Leclerc, **[fcorriveau-leclerc@cupe.ca]{.underline}**, 613-237-1590
CSRA [cuperetirees@gmail.com]{.underline}
**[cuperetirees.ca]{.underline}**
In solidarity,
Pat Daley, President; Shelly Gordon, Vice-President; Leanne MacMillan, Treasurer; Carole Lefebvre, Secretary