VICTORIA—CUPE Local 50 welcomed 19 support workers from the RCMP detachment in Langford as new members this week. During a Local meeting, CUPE 50 President John Burrows introduced the executive, offered the members background information and shared the Local’s proud history of representing workers in the Victoria region for almost 100 years.
The new members received a second round of resounding applause when they were sworn in.
“One of the main mandates of CUPE is to make sure we take care of our members,” said Burrows in his welcoming remarks, noting that CUPE is able to help smaller groups both financially and through representation.
Although CUPE 50 began by representing workers at the City of Victoria, he added, the Local has grown to now represent many smaller groups of workers. These include the Victoria Police Board, BCSPCA Victoria Branch, Gorge Vale Golf Club, Royal Oak Burial Park and the United Way of Greater Victoria.
Burrows told the newest group of members that they would have representation on CUPE 50’s executive board. He also explained when elections would occur, handed out CUPE 50’s history booklet and Constitution and Bylaws, and talked about upcoming Local meetings. Two members and one alternate were elected for the bargaining committee as the kick-off to achieving a first collective agreement.
Burrows told the RCMP detachment support workers that becoming union members would not only be important to themselves but also to their families. Executive member Carlos Flores spoke passionately about the strength workers gain by belonging to a union.
“It’s not every day that we see working people get organized,” said Flores. “Unions are not there to go backwards, we are here to move forward. We need each of us to make that possible.”
After the meeting was adjourned, members had the opportunity to ask questions and enjoy refreshments and socializing with the CUPE 50 executive board.
For more photos, visit the gallery.
