WHITE ROCK - The City of White Rock now owns its own water utility and will be holding a community forum on the subject next week. The City recently voted unanimously to expropriate the system from Edmonton-based EPCOR and operate it in-house using CUPE workers.

CUPE BC’s letter to outgoing national president

BURNABY - Paul Moist, national president of CUPE, announced his retirement yesterday, effective at the November convention in Vancouver. CUPE BC President Mark Hancock today sent Moist an open letter on behalf of the Division’s Executive Board and all 85,000 members in B.C.

Read the letter here.

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KAMLOOPS - The union representing close to 500 workers at Thompson Rivers University ratified a new collective agreement that includes a 5.4 per cent wage increase over a 5 year period, as well as health benefit improvements.

“It was hard bargaining,” said Lois Rugg, President of CUPE Local 4879.  “The union focused on increased health care benefits for vision wear and dental implants and addressed a number of important issues for our members.”

SURREY – CUPE Local 402 and the City of Surrey begin two days of contract negotiations today, marking the start of bargaining for more than 17,000 municipal workers throughout the Lower Mainland.  CUPE Local 402 is the first of 21 CUPE locals that will be bargaining at 30 tables with 20 municipalities over the coming months.

BURNABY—A defamation suit filed by CUPE BC and CUPE Local 1004 on November 25, 2014 against the Vancouver Civic Non Partisan Association (NPA) and mayoralty candidate Kirk LaPointe has been settled, and all parties to the suit today issued the following joint statement.

JOINT STATEMENT

In October and November 2014, during the Vancouver civic election campaign, the NPA and its mayoralty candidate Kirk LaPointe made allegations of improper conduct on the part of CUPE Local 1004.  Those allegations also affected CUPE BC.

KELOWNA - CUPE Local 338 was proud to sponsor the Second Annual Strong Communities Family Festival in Kelowna on Saturday.  Local president Lee Mossman said, “our members are happy to give back to the community and show that CUPE cares about the places we live, work and play in.”

VANCOUVER – CUPE 4627, representing workers at Vancouver Community College (VCC) in downtown Vancouver, are taking on the BC Liberal government.

Premier Christy Clark is putting Vancouver Community College on the chopping block, say leaders of the newly launched Save Our VCC campaign.

BURNABY—British Columbia’s largest union has called on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to take action to have Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy released from prison in Egypt and deported to his home country. CUPE BC’s message to the prime minister is in addition to the letter last week from Paul Moist, national president of CUPE, as well as an open letter signed by more than 300 prominent Canadians.

GRAND FORKS - Every single Grand Forks municipal worker was on hand last night for the Grand Forks City Council meeting. The 32 members of CUPE local 4728 and their families held signs calling for "a workplace built on respect."

QUALICUM BEACH – The month-long lockout of Qualicum Beach municipal workers is over. The town of Qualicum Beach has now agreed to accept a mediator’s recommendations for a new contract with its unionized workers. CUPE members ratified the deal last week.