TO ALL CUPE CHARTERED ORGANIZATIONS AND STAFF

Dear Sisters, Brothers, and Friends:

As we approach the final days of 2025, I am thrilled to offer a first look at what CUPE’s 2026 budget will bring in the new year.

Thanks to our collective commitment and hard work over the past year, continuing to secure fair wage increases and growing our membership to 800,000, we remain in a strong financial position. While our revenue growth is stabilizing after several years of post-pandemic and high-inflation increases, the 2026 budget continues to deliver important investments in our staff and our programs.

The budget approved by the National Executive Board earlier this week makes strategic investments in programming. It provides additional staffing in every region to support our members’ militancy for strong collective agreements and high-quality public services.

With the addition of 28 new permanent and temporary positions in the General Fund, we continue to respond to locals’ needs for more direct staff support. The two programs launched last year for Leadership Development and Consolidated Bargaining Power will continue in the new year, and significant resources will be allocated to implementing the strategic directions adopted by delegates at our recent national convention. The budget also dedicates funding to the two task forces established by convention: one on governance and one on the trial procedure.

We will also continue to draw on the resources accumulated in the National Defence Fund to strengthen campaign work across the country and to add temporary staffing in every region. Increased resources will be available for cost-shared campaigns, as well as for national and regional strategic initiatives. The Defence Fund will support 21 temporary positions, bringing the total number of new positions this year to 49.

Thank you all for everything you do to support our members and for your ongoing contributions to CUPE. Your leadership is truly invaluable.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season, and I look forward to working together in the new year.

In solidarity,

CANDACE RENNICK
National Secretary-Treasurer