Backing down is not in our playbook: Hancock

VANCOUVER— In an ever-changing and increasingly chaotic world, Canada’s largest union is ready to fight for workers, public services, and better communities for everyone across the country. That was the message from CUPE National President Mark Hancock in his address to the 2025 CUPE BC convention.

“We’re living in a difficult moment. A moment of fear, division, and uncertainty not just at home in Canada, but across the continent and around the world. Donald Trump is making our world a more dangerous and less predictable place. And that’s changing everything for us as a union and as a labour movement,” said Hancock in his report to convention delegate.

Calling B.C. home, and having previously served as president of CUPE BC before being elected national president in 2015, Hancock said B.C. has a big advantage to weathering the current trade war with the U.S.

“With Donald Trump attacking our economy and our livelihoods, our BC NDP government made it clear that they would not resort to austerity measures to respond to Trump’s tariffs,” said Hancock, while thanking CUPE BC for helping re-electing the Eby government. “Unlike a lot of other governments across Canada, the BC NDP are not going to force ordinary people to fend for themselves in the economic chaos that we’re already experiencing.”

Across Canada, Hancock said CUPE’s most powerful tool to help its members and all workers deal with economic blowback caused by our southern neighbour, or potential austerity measures from provinces and the newly elected Carney federal government, is our collective strength at bargaining tables.

“CUPE now has a reputation in the labour movement and, importantly, among employers. Our members know when we say we are going to stand up for them, we mean it. When we say no concessions… we mean it. And when we say no two-tier agreements, we mean it! And employers know it too,” said Hancock. “We are Canada’s largest union, and we are Canada’s strongest union. Backing down is not in our playbook. Surrendering what we value is not in our dictionary. Not now – not ever!”