General Vice-Presidents

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.