CUMBERLAND—CUPE members on Vancouver Island attended Cumberland’s annual Miners’ Memorial this past weekend. The event honours miner and union organizer Ginger Goodwin along with all miners who have given their lives in the struggle to feed their families.
Goodwin, who led the strike for the eight hour day at the Trail lead/zinc mine in 1917, was hunted down and shot by police for ‘draft evasion’. The untimely death of this Canadian trade unionist inspired the first general strike in Canada on August 2, 1918.
Flowers were laid on Goodwin’s grave and members took time to remember the important work Goodwin did for the labour movement.
The new CUPE BC community events trailer was on site and following the graveside ceremony attendees were invited to attend a free barbeque hosted by the Vancouver Island District Council (VIDC) and co-sponsored by CUPE BC.
VIDC would like to thank all those who were a part of making this an extremely successful event.
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