CUPE 561 members at First Canada ratify four-year agreement

ABBOTSFORD—CUPE 561, representing 150 transit drivers for the City of Abbotsford who work for the bus company First Canada, have ratified a four-year agreement that will see two-per-cent wage increases for each year plus an additional one per cent for Handydart drivers in the first year. Under the new contract, all wages are fully retroactive and […]

Penticton city workers ratify five-year contract

PENTICTON–CUPE workers have ratified a new collective agreement with the City of Penticton.  At a vote held last night, the members of CUPE Local 608 voted 89% in favour of a deal that has also been ratified by the City. The new contract is a five-year, no-concessions agreement running from Jan. 1, 2014 until Dec. […]

Kudos for anti-oppression training

BURNABY—A new version of the “Creating Social Justice” course provided by CUPE’s Equality department is receiving accolades from the local members it targets. First presented at the Union’s week-long school in June, where it was co-facilitated by B.C. Equality Representative Conni Kilfoil and CUPE National Diversity Vice-President (Workers of Colour) Yolanda McClean, the new training […]

CUPE BC supports Horgan’s call to fire Fassbender

CUPE BC President Mark Hancock has no doubt as to who should take the blame for the BC Teachers’ Federation’s prolonged contract dispute with the BC Liberal government. “Make no mistake.  This crisis in education is the direct result of Christy Clark’s 12-year crusade against teachers,” Hancock told a large crowd at a BCTF rally […]

Labour Day picnic 2014 a big success

BURNABY—The 2014 Labour Day picnic sponsored by the BC Federation of Labour drew a big crowd of trade unionists and their families along with many other community members to Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium Monday. Those who arrived early were treated to CUPE’s own Tanya Paterson and Stevo Knauff, who performed O Canada and Solidarity Forever. Burnaby […]

To end dispute of her making, Premier must step in—CUPE BC

BURNABY—If Premier Christy Clark is serious about wanting to have B.C. public schools open any time soon, she needs to start demonstrating the leadership qualities she claimed during last year’s provincial election, CUPE BC President Mark Hancock said today. “During the last election, the Premier did a good job of playing a leader on TV, […]

United Church claims against workers ‘unfounded’

NARAMATA – The BC Labour Relations Board has dismissed the latest complaints filed by the United Church’s Naramata Centre against its striking employees.  In its ruling released on Friday, the LRB dismissed claims by Centre management that its unionized staff is on an illegal strike or that the Canadian Union of Public Employees members had bargained […]