VICTORIA—Ambulance paramedics put their lives at risk every day and cannot be
thanked enough for the critical role they play in emergency health services. That message was loud and clear during a solemn dedication ceremony, held in the provincial capital on Wednesday (May 6), to memorialize the ten paramedics who have died on the job since the BC Ambulance Service was established in 1974.

VICTORIA–The City of Victoria and CUPE Local 50 have announced that starting January 1, new Parking Ambassadors will be moved to an in-house model.

The in-house model is intended to give the City greater ability to offer a parking experience consistent with customer service objectives and stakeholder needs, while still regulating parking to ensure there is high turnover of parking spaces downtown.

BURNABY—This coming weekend, advocates, families and other child care supporters throughout B.C. will be joining “stroller brigades”  in their communities to ensure that the issue of quality child care is visible across Canada and to call on the government to support a $10-a-Day Child Care Plan for B.C.

Child care is good for the economy, good for families, good for Canada.

We know that Canada needs quality child care that all families can afford.

VICTORIA - Following a successful kickoff event held on April 29 at the Royal BC Museum, the Eastside Select Committee has announced three additional community dialogues. CUPE members and others who support publicly owned and operated sewage treatment have a number of options to get involved and be part of discussions.

May 09, 11am-1pm
Saanich, Cedar Hill Rec Centre

May 09, 3:30pm-5:30pm
Oak Bay, Windsor Pavilion Sports Room

May 13, 10am-12pm
Victoria, Crystal Pool

BURNABY—CUPE 7000, representing 126 employees of Southern Railway (SRY), this afternoon ratified a tentative agreement reached late last week with the U.S.-owned company. They will begin returning to work tomorrow.

Key elements of the seven-year agreement, retroactive to April 1, 2014, include preservation of post-retiree benefits, improvements to dental benefits, improvements to training and working conditions, and annual wage increases of 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1.5, 1.5, and 1.5 per cent, respectively.

POWELL RIVER - Powell River city workers have requested mediation in an effort to reach an agreement with the city and avoid service disruption.

“We know that the city is in good financial health and that other similar and neighbouring communities have reached agreements with their workers along the same terms that CUPE is seeking.  Given this, we are hopeful that mediation scheduled for May 14 and 15 will allow us to reach a fair agreement,” said Danielle Craigen, CUPE 798 president.

New executive board elected at 52nd annual CUPE BC Convention

VANCOUVER—Delegates to CUPE BC’s 2015 Convention in Vancouver today re-elected President Mark Hancock and Secretary-Treasurer Paul Faoro, as well as a new Executive Board.

VANCOUVER - Convention delegates received some sobering news about Honduran workplaces and women’s rights from this year’s international solidarity speaker, who thanked CUPE BC for its support of her organization’s work.

Laura Bulk
CUPE 2278
Teaching Assistant

VANCOUVER - International human rights champion Stephen Lewis revved up delegates on Friday with a firebrand speech that, with his trademark orator’s flair, eviscerated the Harper Conservatives and praised CUPE BC for its progressive social activism on several fronts.

“I love the rambunctious crowd in this trade union crucible,” he began, describing the convention atmosphere. “If only most of Canada could see the intelligence and judgement and intensity when you are discussing important issues—it would be an elixir for the entire country.”