BURNABY—CUPE 7000, representing 126 employees of Southern Railway, have reached a tentative agreement with the U.S.-owned company, effectively ending a lockout that began on January 5.

Details of the agreement are not being released, as members will be holding a ratification vote on Monday (May 4).

During the 114-day lockout, Southern Railway managers operated the system. The two sides returned to the bargaining table on March 30.

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VANCOUVER - At a breakfast forum this morning, CUPE National President Paul Moist made a strong case for members to get involved in the upcoming federal election and elect a New Democrat government that supports working families. Delegates were reminded of the Harper Conservative’s abysmal record on pensions, health care, child care and workers’ rights. 

VANCOUVER-CUPE BC has launched an Environment Allstars contest. Open to CUPE members in B.C., the contest is designed to highlight creative projects that support the environment and to engage and celebrate CUPE members who have shown leadership as stewards of the environment in their lives, their workplaces, or their communities.

VANCOUVER —The BC Liberal government needs to start consulting with the unionized workers who provide important services for the K-12 sector before setting the policy that directly affects it, says CUPE’s K-12 Presidents’ Council.

VANCOUVER—British Columbia’s biggest union—CUPE BC—kicks off its 52nd annual convention in Vancouver tomorrow night, as more than 600 delegates from across the province gather together at the Westin Bayshore.

Convention runs from 7 pm Wednesday, April 29 until 4 pm on Saturday, May 2.

VICTORIA - New public consultations for the development of sewage treatment are underway in the Capital Regional District (CRD). Select Committees for the Eastside and Westside of the CRD’s Core Area are conducting separate consultation processes and inviting public participation. At the end of consultations, the two committees will come together to discuss solutions that could work across the entire Core Area.

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.

BURNABY – On April 28 CUPE members across British Columbia mark the Annual Day of Mourning for workers injured or killed on the job.

CUPE BC President Mark Hancock says that CUPE members and all workers should be able to trust that they will be safe at work and that CUPE will continue to work vigorously to make sure this is a reality.  

The community discussed issues that are important to education and heard from a knowledgeable panel who experience the education system on a daily basis.

CUPE BC and local members joined more than 250,000 people on Saturday (April 18) for the largest Vaisakhi parade outside of India.

To view photos of the event, visit the gallery.

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CUPE BC President Mark Hancock addresses delegates at the BCSTA annual general meeting.

VANCOUVER – School trustees and K-12 workers share a common interest in having the best public education system possible for B.C.’s children, CUPE BC President Mark Hancock told the annual general meeting of the British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA).