Event

Date/Location

Participants

Description

Communication Workers Union of Great Britain Convention

June 6-8, 2008
Britain

CUPW 2nd National Vice-President Sister Bue attended.

CUPW strengthened our ties with the CWU and were reminded that we are facing the same issues including harassment and attendance management.

International Transport Federation (ITF) Road transport Section Conference

June 9, 10 & 11, 2008
London

3rd National Vice-President George Floresco, National Organizing Union Representative Valère Tremblay & Pacific Regional Education and Organization officer Sister Coleen Jones attended.

Discussions regarding the need to organize and role of women.

Frontlines Tour to Columbia

July 13-24, 2008
Colombia

National President Brother Lemelin attended.

Focus on human, labour and Indigenous rights.  Included a meeting with the postal workers union of Colombia.

Comité mondial d'UNI Poste & Logistique

July 22-23, 2008
Nyon, Switzerland

Second National Vice-President Sister Bue participated.

Strengthened our ties with other postal unions globally.

APWU Convention

August 16-20, 2008
Las Vegas

National Brother Lemelin and Sister Nauss, President of the Kamloops Local attended.

Stronger links made with the Union.

Postal Expo

Sept 30–Oct. 2, 2008
London

Tied in with a visit to the CWU.
National Union Representatives Sisters Foreman and Kennedy and Montreal Region National Director and Brother Langlois and Winnipeg Local President Brother Bob Tyre participated.

Learned about different machinery being used in post offices around the world.  Gained information to assist us in responding to Modern Post.

Unions and Social Movements and ITF event

Oct. 16 and 17, 2008
Oslo, Norway

National Union Representative Sister Foreman and 3rd National Vice-President Brother Floresco attended.

Learned about organizing and need to work in coalitions.  Met with the Norwegian postal workers union.  Discussions about the impact of letter carrier sequencing and the threat of deregulation.  Gained information to assist us in responding to Modern Post.

Durban Prepatory Conference

October 6-17, 2008
Geneva

Sister Raponi a Union Representative from the Toronto Region, Brother Fred Turner, a National Union Representative and Toronto Region National Director Nanda attended.

Discussions about working against racism and the impact of racism on a global level.

Labour Tour to the Philippines

November 12-25, 2008

Toronto Regional National Director Brother Nanda participated.

Learned about human rights in the Philippines.  Met with one of the postal workers unions in the Philippines and learned about the challenges they are facing – including the introduction of new technology.

ITF/UNI Conference on DHL organizing

November 18-19, 2008
Luxembourg

Sister Ryan, a National Communications staff person, and 3rd National Vice-President George Floresco and National organizing Union representative Valère Tremblay attended.

Information about the need to organize and different trends in organizing.

Canadian Peace Conference

December 5-7, 2008 Toronto

National President Brother Lemelin, 4th National President Brother Donald Lafleur, Atlantic Regional National Director Brother Jeff Callaghan, Atlantic REC members Brother Kevin Buckland, and Sister Toni MacAfee attended.

Discussions about the need to work in solidarity against the war.

Delegation to the US to look at the effects of sequencing-meeting with the NALC

January 2009
North Dakota

Alternation Union representative Sister Louise Jarret, Appendix AA member Sister Pierrette Morin and Appendix AA members Brother Jim Crowell, and Brother Terry MacDonald, and National Union Representative Brother Colin Mackenzie participated.

Learned about the impact of letter carrier sequencing in the USA. Gained information to assist us in responding to Modern Post.

World Social Forum

Jan. 27-Feb. 1, 2009
Belem, Brazil

Atlantic Region REO Sister Toni MacAfee and Montreal Local activist Sister Fumagalli and 4th National Vice-President Brother Donald Lafleur and Brother Ron Rousseau, member of the National Human Rights Committee and President of the Whitehorse Local attended.

Learned about the need to work in solidarity with global movements for social justice.

ITF Annual Global Delivery Meeting

Feb. 25-27, 2009 London

Atlantic Region REO Sister MacAfee, Prairie Region REO, Sister Woodfield, and 3rd National Vice-President Brother Floresco and National organizing Union Representative Brother Tremblay attended.

Discussions about various trends in global mail delivery and organizing.

Delegation to the US to look at the effects of sequencing –meeting with the APWU

March 2009
Florida

National Union Representatives Sisters Cindi Foreman, Cathy Kennedy, Brothers Serge Champoux and Colin Mackenzie and Appendix T member and Tech services activist. and Brothers Norm Burns, attended.

Learned about the job, work organization and health and safety impacts of new technology and work methods.  Gained information to assist us in responding to Modern Post.

UNI Americas Regional Executive Committee

March 18-19, 2009
Sao Paulo, Brazil

3rd National President Brother George Floresco and 2nd National Vice-President Sister Lynn Bue attended.

This strengthened our work with our global union.

An encounter of the Social Movements of the Hemisphere opposed to neo liberalism and for social justice, equity, peace and sustainable development

April 17-19, 2009
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Pacific Region REO Sister Coleen Jones and Atlantic Region National Director Brother Jeff Callaghan attended.

Learned about the need to work with social movements. There were also several meetings with the Trinidad Tobago postal workers Union.  A project between CUPW and the Trinidad Tobago postal workers Union has resulted from these meetings.

Durban Review Conference

April 20-24, 2009 in Geneva

Sister Raponi, a Union Representative from the Toronto Region, Brother Fred Turner, a National Union Representative and Toronto Region National Director Nanda attended.

More discussions on racism and ways to combat it internationally.

May Day Activities in Cuba

April 28-May 7, 2009

Sisters Lucie Monette, from the Montreal Local, Cathy Kavadas, Toronto Regional Grievance Officer, Regina Local activist and NHRC member Shobna Radnos, and Vancouver Local Executive member and National Route measurement Committee member Karen Di Francesco and Brother Kevin Buckland, Atlantic Region RGO, David St.-Onge, Quebec Region Union Representative, Don  Foreman, Central Region Union Representative, Costa Kavadas, Toronto Region REO, and National Union Representative Dave Bleakney attended.

Learned about the ongoing need to work in solidarity with Cuba.  Met with representatives from the Cuban communications workers who represent postal workers.  Tour of a Cuban Post office.   Met with families of the Cuban 5.  Met with the LGBT organization in Cuba.  Attended May Day activities Working on developing a project with the Union representing Cuban postal workers.

Alternatives fact finding mission to Israel and Palestine

May 16-23, 2009

Brother Christian Martel, National Director Quebec Region attended.

Learned about the situation of workers in Palestine and the human rights situation in Palestine.  Has strengthened our work in support of BDS.

Rutgers’s Conference on Postal & Delivery Economics

May 26-29, 2009
Bordeaux, France

CUPW researchers Sister Kathie Steinhoff and Brother Geoff Bickerton presented, Brother George Kuehnbaum, CUPW National Secretary-Treasurer chaired a session.

Learned more about current postal trends. Gained information to assist us in responding to Modern Post.

Petersberg Conference on Postal Retail Outlets

June 10-11, 2009 Kinigswinter, Germany

CUPW Appendix T staff member Brother John MacDonald and Sister Karen Boyko from the Sioux Lookout Local and a member of the CUPW National lead hand project committee attended (Appendix T funding).

Learned about trends regarding retail outlets.

Modern Post International Conference

June 17-19, 2009
Ottawa

Significant CUPW participation.

Learned about the trends facing post offices and postal workers internationally.  Discussion of Union responses.  Topics covered included privatization and deregulation, the economic crisis, health and safety, new technology, processing, sequencing, and our response.  Gained information to assist us in responding to Modern Post.

Delegation to Japan to meet look at the machines CPC wishes to use for Modern Post

June 28-July 4,  2009

National Union Representatives Sister Cathy Kennedy and Brother Serge Champoux and Appendix T member and Tech services activist. and Brothers Norm Burns, attended.

Examined how the machines worked and their impact on workers including health and safety and staffing.  Gained information to assist us in responding to Modern Post.

Workers Out Conference

August 2009 Copenhagen – in conjunction with the World out games

Sister Stefanie Neumann, a human rights and route measurement activist from the Vancouver Local and
Brother Bernard Diamond, a human rights activist and Appendix HH trainer from the Cornerbrook Local attended.

Discussions of the human rights situation of LGBT workers internationally and the role of Unions in promoting equality.

National Association of Rural Letter Carriers Convention

August 18-20, 2009 Texas

CUPW National President Denis Lemelin was a guest speaker.

Continued to strengthen our ties with this union.

UNI World Postal Committee

Sept. 21-27, 2009
Mexico City

Second National Vice-President Sister Lynn Bue and Brothers George Floresco, 3rd National Vice-President and CUPW National President Denis Lemelin attended.

Discussions of trends facing postal workers.  Sister Bue re-elected as President on UNI Americas postal and logistics.  CUPW sponsored the attendance of postal workers from Venezuela.  CUPW met with postal workers from Colombia, Brazil and other countries.  Working on following up these meetings.

ITF Road Organizing Conference

September 27 to October 4, 2009
Uganda

CUPW National Organizing Union Representative Brother Tremblay and Ontario Region REO Sister Laslo attended.

Discussions about organizing and the role Unions are playing in regards to the transmission of HIV/AIDS and the rights of workers with HIV/AIDS.

Israel Committee Against House Demolitions study tour to Israel and Palestine

October 31 to November 11, 2009
Israel and Palestine

National Director for the Central Region, Brother Mark Evard participated.

Investigation of Human rights situation in Palestine and opportunities for solidarity.

Copenhagen Climate Change Conference

December 2009
Denmark

National Union Representative, Brother Dave Bleakney attended

To raise the need for immediate government action on climate change.  To fight for climate justice.  To make links with activists.

March on Gaza

Cairo Egypt December 2001 and January 2010

Quebec Reqion National Director Brother Christian Martel and Atlantic Regional Organization and Education Officer  Sister Toni MacAfee were the CUPW delegates.

To implement CUPW’s position on boycott divestment and sanctions.
To support the struggle of Palestinian people for justice.
To make links with other activists

ITF Women’s Conference

Feb 3 and 4, 2010
London England

2nd National Vice-President Lynn Bue, Montreal Region Alternate Union Rep Nancy Beauchamp, and National Women’s Committee member Adele Mamnona attended

To discuss issues facing women, and to work towards increased equality for women

UNI Americas Women’s Committee Meetings

Feb 13-14, 2010
Uruguay

Sister Bue participated

To discuss issues facing women, and to work towards increased equality for women

UNI  America’s Executive Committee Meeting

Feb 15 and 16 2010 Uruguay

Sister Bue and Brother Floresco participated

To strengthen UNI Americas and to increase CUPW’s  participation in UNI

UN Conference on the Status on Women

March 1-12, 2010
New York

Sister Foreman attended

To look at eh gains women have made since the UN Beijing Conference, and to lobby the Federal Government to take strong and meaningful pro women positions.  To work with women internationally

Trinidad Tobago, UNI and CUPW educational seminar

 March 15-18, 2010
Trinidad/Tobago

A project funded as per Appendix R with the Trinidad Tobago Postal Workers Union
Marion Pollack, Learie Charles, and Karen De Francesco attended

To work with our Sisters and Brothers in the TTPWU to share ideas, and experiences and to learn from each other. To work to strengthen postal workers globally. To share information on privatization, trends facing postal workers, collective bargaining, role of shop stewards, and the grievance procedure

Left Forum 2010

March 19-21, 2010
New York City

Participants included Donald Lafleur, Doug Hacking  Don Foreman, and Brenda Laslo

To learn about new ideas and analysis.  To talk about CUPW’s solidarity struggles

Alternative Climate Change conference organized by Evo Morales

April 20-22, 2010
Cochabamba Bolivia

Brother Lafleur and Sister Kaboni attended

To protect the Environment.  To work with our allies to prevent massive climate change.  To focus on the issues facing Indigenous people and climate change

Labour Notes Conference

April 23- 25, 2010
Detroit Michigan

Brothers Floresco, Hacking, and Gollan and Sisters Kennedy and Hilton and Jarret attended

To learn about Labour Struggles, to meet with our allies, to learn about new and innovative ways of fighting back

CUPW Youth May Day Delegation to Cuba

April 27- May 10, 2010
Cuba

Brothers Nicolas Prense, Asim Malik, Christian Labreque, and Matthew Turmaine and Sisters Samantha Earle, Bonnie Pollard, Amanda Cowie, and Sophie Vaillancourt are the youth delegates.
Brother Marc Desgranges and Sister Maddie Cleroux are the leaders

To make links with young postal workers in Cuba
To celebrate May Day
To support Cuban workers

ITF Organizing Meeting

May 19 and 20, 2010 London (UK)

Brother Tremblay and Sister Fumagalli attended

To make contacts and strengthen our ability to organize
To discuss and learn about new ideas and strategies

ITUC 2nd World Congress

June 21-25, 2010 Vancouver

Brothers Denis Lemelin, George Floresco, and Irwin Nanda and Sisters Lynn Bue and Marion Pollack attended

To make contacts with COSATU
To learn about the international trade union movement and work with our allies
To work with our global union federations
To further CUPW’s policies

G8/G20  Summit

June 16-27, 2010
Toronto

A number of events, including an alternative peoples’ summit, a forum on labour rights in Mexico, and action days including on taking back the streets LBGT, and Indigenous Solidarity.  There was a major labour demonstration on June 26th starting at 1:00 p.m. at Queens Park
Many CUPW members participated
Significant over reaction by the police

To join with other Unions and social activists in fighting for a better world

Labour Start Conference

July 9-11, 2010
Hamilton Ontario
McMaster University

Marion Pollack spoke on behalf of CUPW

To make contacts, speak about CUPW's role and learn new ideas

42nd ITF Conference

August 5-12, 2010 
Mexico City

George Floresco, Jacques Valiquette and Karine Mayer attended

To further CUPW policies
To learn about new ways of approaching situations
To make links

APWU Convention

August 23-27, 2010
Detroit Michigan

Denis Lemelin attended

To make links and share ideas about common problems

UNI Americas Presidents meeting

August 30 and 31, 2010
Panama

This is a meeting of the Presidents of the UNI Americas components, as President of UNI Americas Postal and logistics, Sister Bue attended

To build better unity

UNI Postal and Logistics Meeting on Banking

September 14-15, 2010
Luxembourg

Meeting on postal banking. Brothers George Kuehnbaum and Geoff Bickerton, and Sister Lynn Pajot attended

UNI postal and logistics meeting on banking.  The information we received will assist us in our campaign to expand Canada Post services.

Global Union Federation Meeting on quality public services

October 12-14, 2010
Geneva

Brother George Floresco and Sister Lynn Bue

Global Union Federation meeting on quality public services.  This is a meeting of a number of Global Union Federations on quality public services.

International BDS Conference

October 22-24, 2010
Montreal

A number of CUPW members attended

International BDS Conference

World Education Forum Palestine

October 28-30, 2010
Palestine

Brother Christian Martel is part of the delegation

World Education Forum Palestine

Tour to Israel and Palestine with Jeff Halper

October 29 to November 8, 2010
Palestine

Brother John Bail was part of this delegation

Tour to Israel and Palestine with Jeff Halper

UNI World Conference

November 6-12, 2010
Nagasaki, Japan

Sister Lynn Bue, Brothers George Floresco and Irwin Nanda attended.  CUPW assisted Sister Dora Lillia Gomez from Colombia to attend

UNI World Conference

ITF organizers training school

November 8-12, 2010
Tunisia

Brother Valère Tremblay attended this education seminar and will use this to develop CUPW education material and campaigns

ITF organizers training school

17th World Festival of Youth and Students

December 13-21, 2010 Tshwane, South Africa

Sister Erin Collins from the Vancouver Local attended.  The Vancouver and District Labour Council co‑sponsored her participation.

To meet youth and students from around the globe.  To strategize with youth and students about ways to challenge the corporate global agenda and to develop networks to improve the lives of young people

UNI Post & Logistics, and the Turkish Trade Union Haber-Is, seminar on liberalisation of the postal sector

February 11 & 12, 2011 Ankara, Turkey

2nd National Vice-President Sister Lynn Bue attended and was a guest speaker

Discussion on the problems with postal deregulation, and how trade unions need to deal with this, including looking at organizing workers in the private postal sectors

55th United Nations Session on the Status of Women

Feb. 22—March 4, 2011
New York, USA

National Union Representative Sister Cindi Foreman attended

To ensure that women’s concerns are properly addressed by the United Nations.  To be part of a delegation of trade union women putting pressure on the Canadian Government on women’s issues

UNI Planning Meeting

March 31, 2011
Washington D.C.

National Union Representative Marion Pollack

Met with head of UNI Postal and Logistics , and the National Association of Letter Carriers to prepare for the upcoming UNI innovations conference

Rutgers Advanced Workshop on Postal Competition and Regulation

April 1, 2011 Washington D.C.

National Union Representative Marion Pollack

Heard presentations on the latest trend in postal services globally, including vote by mail.  Listened to a presentation by Canada Post.

UNI Americas Youth Committee, UNI Americas Women’s Committee, and UNI Americas Management and Executive Committee

April 1-5, 2011
Bogota, Colombia

Metro-Montreal Region Union Representative Sister Melanie Couture attended the youth committee;
2nd National Vice‑President Sister Lynn Bue attended the women’s committee and Sister Bue and Third National Vice-President Brother George Floresco both attended the Management and Executive Committee

To meet with UNI Americas activists, to share our experiences, and to develop a strategic plan for UNI Americas.  Sister Bue was elected President of the UNI America’s Women’s Committee

UNI meeting of postal Unions from the Middle East and North Africa

May 12 and 13, 2011 Geneva, Switzerland

2nd National Vice-President Sister Lynn Bue and National Union Representative Marion Pollack

To work to strengthen postal unions in the Middle East and North Africa, to discuss and share the experiences of privatization and deregulation.

UNI and ITF Global Delivery Meeting

May 23 and 24, 2011
Frankfurt, Germany

National Union Representative Valère Tremblay and organizer Sister Jan Simpson attended

To discuss strategies to deal with the growth of multi national companies such as DHL.  To take actions to pressure DHL to sign a global agreement protecting workers rights.

Second Joint Trinidad and Tobago/CUPW School

August 16-21, 2011
Port of Spain, Trinidad

Sister Anju Parmar, Chief Shop Steward, Vancouver Local and Sister Lisa Ziegler, Secretary-Treasurer, Regina Local

To facilitate in a school for postal workers in Trinidad and Tobago.  To discuss issues such as trends in the post office internationally, collective bargaining, the role of Union officers and health and safety

UNI Americas Meeting

August 21-27, 2011

Montevideo Uruguay

Sister Lynn Bue 2nd National Vice President  and Brother George Floresco 3rd National Vice President

Sister Bue attended in her capacity as President of UNI Americas Postal and Logistics and Brother Floresco attended in his capacity as a member of the Management Committee.  The focus was to improve and enhance UNI’s work in the Americas.

UNI Postal and Logistics Global Union World Conference and innovations forum

September 6-9, 2011

Washington D.C.

Sisters Lynn Bue (2nd National Vice President), Lori Karas (Union Representative –Central Region) , Kathie Steinhoff (Research and Communications) and Marion Pollack (National Union Representative) and Brothers Jeremy Gillies (Research and Communications), Yannick Scott (Regional Education and Organization Officer (Montreal Region), Geoff Bickerton (Research and Communications) and George Floresco attended for all or part of these meetings

September 6th was the innovations forum which CUPW co–sponsored.  Sister Bue and Brother Bickerton made presentations.  Brother Gillies assisted in the organization of the conference.  There were very informative discussions about voting by mail, remittances, hybrid mail, last mile delivery options and much more.

The conference included discussions on the fight against privatization and deregulation, remittances, organizing,   post office and HIV/AIDS and the state of post offices and postal unions internationally.

Resolutions were passed supporting CUPW’s struggle for the right to free collective bargaining, opposing the use of lie detector tests for workers at DHL in Colombia and supporting a campaign for increased use of post offices to provide remittances.

ITF Young Workers

Summer School

October 9-15, 2011

Madrid

Sister Emily Ottowell, 1st Vice-President Fraser Valley West Local

To strengthen the international perspective of union leaders and activists.

To discuss issues including privatization, the growth of precarious work and organizing

Ryerson College China Labour Forum

October 13 and 14, 2011
Ryerson University,
Toronto

Sister Marion Pollack

To explore with other trade unionists the possibility of engaging with the trade union movement and workers in China.

To begin to understand the situation for workers in China both in the public sector and the private sector.
to learn about the All China Federation of Trade Unions

Canadian Peace Alliance

October 13 and 14, 2011
Ryerson University,
Toronto

Sisters Marion Pollack and Toni MacAfee

To work in alliance for peace

International Colloquium on the Cuban 5

November 15-25, 2011
Holguín, Cuba

Sister Cori Longo from the Edmonton Local and Regional Union Representative Brother Don Foreman

To plan the next stages in the fight for freedom for the Cuban 5

To work with our allies on the issue of freedom for the Cuban 5

Labour Start Conference

November 18-20, 2011
Istanbul Turkey

Sister Anna Beale, President, Calgary Local, CUPW

To deepen our work with Labour Start. 

Labour Start helped CUPW during our back to work legislation

Monitoring the CUPW/CWU Project in South Africa

November 26–December 2, 2011
Johannesburg,
South Africa

Brother Donald Lafleur and Fredericton Local member Sister Ruth Breen

Since this is a project we share with PSAC, several PSAC members will also attend

To monitor our project with the Communication Workers Union, using set criteria

To discuss ways in which reporting between CUPW and the CWU can be improved

To discuss future projects

Climate Change Conference

December 2 -9 2011
Durban South Africa

Brother Donald Lafleur and Fredericton Local member Sister Ruth Breen

To work to save our planet

To work with other unions and NGO’s on climate justice

To try and stop any attempt to privatize the environment