VANCOUVER — B.C.’s largest union is setting its agenda to tackle economic and political uncertainty head on to defend workers and public services. CUPE BC, the provincial division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, kicked off its annual convention this evening in Vancouver.
Karen Ranalletta, president of CUPE BC, opened the 3-day convention by thanking the union’s 100,000 members in the province for helping re-elect a progressive provincial government.
“This time last year I stood before you, I said that the single most important thing we needed to accomplish in 2024 was the re-election of the BC NDP government. And wow, did you ever nail it,” said Ranalletta in her opening address. “I have never seen so much grassroots engagement in an election campaign by so many rank-and-file CUPE members who knew what was at stake.”
Ranalletta, who has been CUPE BC president since 2021, challenged to over 600 convention delegates to continue working to elect progressive local governments, strengthen public child care, defend good public education, and take on global uncertainty by building stronger communities.
“I want to assure you that there are things we can do, and we need not be reduced to passive observers in a criminal narcist’s global psychodrama. The greatest asset we have is our solidarity and unity,” said Ranalletta. “If we stand up for each other, build a strong coalition, act strategically, champion the principles of social democracy, and remember to be kind to each other as we go hard on our opponents, we can and will come out ahead in the years to come.”
The 2025 CUPE BC Convention continues until Saturday. Delegates will be welcoming several guest speakers, including CUPE National President Mark Hancock, CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick, and B.C. Premier David Eby.
