Karen Ranalletta

Karen Ranalletta was elected President of CUPE BC on May 21, 2021, after serving three terms as a General Vice President. She previously served as President of CUPE 2950 (representing more than 1500 clerical and library workers at the University of British Columbia). Karen represents CUPE BC as an Officer (Vice President) of the BC Federation of Labour and chairs the BC Fed's Health and Safety Committee. She also serves as a regional vice president for British Columbia on the CUPE National Executive Board. Finally, she sits on the Board of Directors for the BC Labour Heritage Centre, an organization dedicated to preserving and championing working people's history in BC.

Blog: http://hottubbinforjustice.blogspot.ca/

Trevor Davies

Trevor Davies is Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE BC, re-elected in May 2019. He was first elected to the position on December 10, 2015, after serving as one of four general vice presidents. Davies was elected as GVP in July of 2010 after serving on the executive board since 2009. Trevor is the former President of CUPE Local 374 in the Greater Victoria area and worked as the Occupational Health and Safety Advisor for the City of Colwood before being elected as Secretary-Treasurer. Trevor also serves as the alternate Trustee for CUPE on the BC Municipal Pension Plan Board, which is responsible for pension assets of over $45 billion. Trevor has traveled across B.C. and internationally working on health and safety projects for workers and youth. Davies is an alumnus of the University of Victoria, the Labour College of Canada and the Governor General Leadership Conference

Dal Benning

Dal is currently President of CUPE Local 718, which represents City of Richmond (Inside Workers), Regional Animal Protection Society and Richmond Fitness & Wellness Association workers. He has served on his Local’s Executive in various positions since 2007. Between 2009 and 2015, he served on the CUPE BC Executive Board, where he held the positions of Diversity Vice-President and General Vice- President. During this time, he chaired and served on various CUPE BC, CUPE National and BC Federation of Labour Committees. In 2021, he was elected again as General Vice-President.  As a Union activist, Dal works with other CUPE Locals, unions and progressives to protect and advocate for worker’s rights.

Sheryl Burns

Sheryl Burns is the proud president of CUPE Local 1936 and the Workers with Disabilities Representative on the BC Federation of Labour Executive Council.  She is serving her third term on the CUPE BC Executive Board, including her second term as one of four General Vice-Presidents.

Sheryl currently represents CUPE members on the City of Vancouver Joint Childcare Council and on the Provincial Social Services Sector Roundtable.  She also sits on the Provincial Accessibility Legislation Advisory Committee.

Sheryl has chaired and participated on numerous CUPE BC and CUPE National Committees, including the CUPE BC Community Social Services Committee, the CUPE BC Environment Committee, the CUPE BC and National Workers with Disabilities Committees, and the CUPE National Women’s Committee.  She is the proud 2017 recipient of the CUPE National Disability Rights Award.

Nicole Edmondson

Nicole Edmondson is a General Vice President of CUPE BC. She has been with the Kamloops Thompson school district since 2005 as an Education Assistant, and as past President of CUPE Local 3500 represented more than 800 support staff members including custodians, tradespersons, and school bus drivers.  Nicole joined Savona Fire and Rescue in 1997 where she has served as Fire Chief since 2003.

Michelle Waite

Michelle Waite is in her third term as General Vice-President and prior to this, served as Regional Vice-President for two terms. She is a graduate of the CLC Labour College of Canada and currently is part of the CUPE National Sector Council as Post-Secondary Co-Chair. Michelle is a proud member of CUPE 3479. Political action is her passion in her quest for making space for positive change.

Sarah Bjorknas

Sarah has been a member of CUPE Local 23 in Burnaby since 1993 and is a Vice-President representing Library workers. She is currently President of the CUPE Metropolitan Vancouver District Council. Sarah is a community activist who is passionate about equity, dignity, justice and peace.

Monica Brady

I live on the beautiful North West Coast of BC. I am President of Local 2052 and Diversity Vice-President for Northern Area District Council and have been involved with both for 20 years.  I also sit on the CUPE BC Persons with Disabilities Committee and have been involved with them for 18 years.  I enjoy supporting the members of my Local and working on issues that are important to us, such as Occupational Health & Safety and violence in the workplace. 

John Gibson

I am currently President of CUPE Local 454 representing over 1100 members in Delta BC and Regional Vice-President - Metro of CUPE BC. I have spent the past two decades defending the rights of CUPE members through my activism and continue to fight for the rights of all workers. I am honoured to serve on the Executive Board with such incredible leaders. Together we will effect positive change for all members.

Stephanie Goudie

Stephanie is a lifelong activist, and has been part of her Local Executive in Dawson Creek since 2014. She was a candidate for the BC NDP in 2017, and continues to work with the party as President of her Riding Association. She is passionate about progressive and human rights, and has served on the CUPE BC Political Action and Anti-Privatization committees. Stephanie is honoured to be serving her second term as Regional Vice-President for the North.

Rose Jurkic

I have been the President of CUPE 1123 Okanagan Regional Library Workers for over a decade. I have been the Chair of the CUPE BC Library Committee and Co-Chair of the CUPE National Library Committee.

Amber Leonard

Amber Leonard is a regional vice president of CUPE BC representing Vancouver Island. Elected in May 2015, Amber is a CUPE member in the Sooke School District. She has been an activist for many years, is currently the president of the Vancouver Island District Council and served as a Trustee with CUPE BC for two terms before being elected RVP.

Sara Manchester

Sara Manchester is an Alternate Regional Vice-President of CUPE BC representing the Fraser Valley. She was elected to this position in May of 2019; Sara is a CUPE member at the Township of Langley. She has been actively involved with her Local since 2016 and is currently the President of CUPE Local 403 and serves as a Trustee on the Fraser Valley District Council.

Kirk Mercer

Kirk Mercer was re-elected Vancouver Island Regional Vice-President, at CUPE BC's 57th Convention in 2021. He has been a proud CUPE member at the University of Victoria for 17 years. He currently serves as President for Local 951, and is also the Chair of the CUPE BC Skilled Trades Committee. Kirk previously held the positions of 1st Vice-President and Deputy Chief Steward for local 951 over years and has served as an experienced member of the Negotiations Committee from 2009 to present.  In his role he continues as chair of the South Vancouver Island United Way Labour committee and as member of the Board of Governors and looks forward to working with the other Unions.

Debra Merrier

Debra has worked for the Surrey School District #36 for 20 years as an Indigenous Youth Care Worker. She joined Local 728 in 2006 as a Shop Steward and continues to work in many areas of our Local. At the Present time, her role is 2^nd Vice-President and on the Constitution Bylaws/Education Committee.

Tony Rebelo

Tony is currently the President of Local 7000, which represents SkyTrain and Southern Rail workers.  He has been a Union advocate for the past 17 years holding different positions within his Local.  He currently sits on the CUPE BC Occupational Health & Safety and Transportation Committees and was appointed to the National Transportation Committee in early 2020.  He is also a Trustee for the Fraser Valley District Council.

As a Union Advocate, Tony is committed to improving working conditions for all workers.  He looks forward to working with other Union leaders within CUPE on continuing to make the Union stronger as we move forward.

Lois Rugg

I am President of CUPE Local 4879, Thompson Rivers University Support Staff Member of the University Standing Committee and bargaining Committee President of the Kamloops and District Labour Council. I am serving a 2-year term on the BC Fed Executive Council representing the Southern Interior Labour Councils and am the former Co-Chair of the CUPE National Post-Secondary Task Force.

Kari Scott-Whyte

Kari Scott-Whyte (she/her) is honoured to be serving in her first term as Regional Vice-President for the Metro region. Elected to the Executive of CUPE Local 391 in 2016, she is now in her second-term as President, representing 750 library workers in three public library systems from across the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw , Tsleil-Waututh, and shishalh Nations. Kari has served on the provincial Library Committee and is currently a Member-at-large with the Metro Vancouver District Council. 

Deea Bailey

Deea Bailey is Cree-Metis, originally from Treaty 6, who currently lives on the unceded territories of the Kwikwetlem,Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, Stó:lō, Qayqayt, and Musqueam first peoples. Deea is an active member of CUPE Local 1936 in the Community Social Services Sector and is the current Diversity Member-at-Large for the CUPE Fraser Valley District Council. Deea was elected as Alternate-DVP in 2021, after serving on the Indigenous Committee for two full terms.

Hailey Fielden

Hey CUPE siblings, my name is Hailey Fielden. I am the Alternate Diversity Vice-President for Pink Triangle. My pronouns are she/her, and I work as an Educational Assistant in my local. My hobbies include listening to music, playing the ukulele and singing, being in nature, and reading! I love Broadway musicals, too! I look forward to representing members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community as well as Young Workers from across CUPE BC.

Joyce Griffiths

Joyce Griffiths is the Diversity Vice-President for the Pink Triangle Committee representing LGBTQ2+ workers. Joyce uses the pronouns she/her.  Presently Joyce serves her Local 389 as 1st Vice-President. She is also a 32+ year employee of the North Vancouver School District #44 and works as an Education Assistant and Facilities Helper.  Joyce is a delegate from her local to CUPE Metro District Council, Vancouver District Labour Council, New Westminster District Council, BC Federation of Labour, CUPE BC and CUPE National Conventions. 

Shelley Saje Ricci

Shelley carries the name Bear Paw Woman, belongs to the Eagle Clan and is of mixed Indigenous/European heritage with paternal ties to the Michel Band in Treaty 6 territory. She lives on the unceded kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem/Coquitlam) core territory and works on the sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie/Surrey) territory. Shelley has worked in the K-12 sector for 14 years as an Aboriginal Cultural Educator and Youth Worker. She has served as Executive-at-Large with CUPE Local 728 for 3 terms and volunteers on CUPE BC’s Indigenous and Women’s Committees. She is also a delegate to Metropolitan District and New Westminster District Labour Councils. She is an activist, educator, change-maker, National CUPE facilitator and was one of two Indigenous Workers Representatives for the BC Federation of Labour, having served 2 terms (ending November 2020). 

Pat Shade

I have been a dedicated activist in Disability rights specializing in physical disabilities for over 20 years. I am the longest serving member of the CUPE BC Persons with a Disabilities Committee and the CUPE National Committee and have served as Chair on both committees. I look forward to serving our members to the best of my ability.

Laurie Whyte

I am a Return to Work & Accommodation Steward for CUPE 951. I am also Recording Secretary for the Local. I am Diversity Executive-Member-At-Large for Vancouver Island District Council. I have been a CUPE 951 member for 45+ years and have been a steward for over 31 years, including 25 years as Chief Steward. My passion has always been equity, diversity and inclusion.

Debbie Mohabir

Debbie Mohabir is the Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE Local 15 and a Trustee of the Vancouver District and Labour Council. She has been an activist since 2006 and has held many roles within her Local and is a Member Facilitator. She is employed as an Education Assistant at the Vancouver School Board.

David Robertson

David Robertson was elected as Trustee of CUPE BC in 2019 and is the Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE Local 1767 since 2008.  He is employed as a Senior Appraiser with BC Assessment and has been a union activist since the early 2000s.

Jose Van Berkel

José van Berkel is a Trustee of CUPE BC and is the Secretary-Treasurer for Local 3500 and Okanagan Mainline District Council. Her union activism covers many years and she is employed as an Admin Secretary for the School District in Kamloops. José is also a member facilitator for CUPE. This is her third term as a CUPE BC Trustee.