/
/
/
/
/
CUPE BC Convention 2021 opens (virtually) in Vancouver with farewell speech from Faoro

CUPE BC Convention 2021 opens (virtually) in Vancouver with farewell speech from Faoro

VANCOUVER – B.C.’s largest union opened its 57th annual convention today with a final speech from outgoing president Paul Faoro, who is not seeking re-election.

Faoro’s address focused on thanking CUPE members across the province for the work they’ve done to assist in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“At the top of our list of priorities was to do everything we could to keep CUPE members and their families safe,” said Faoro. “We have worked closely with the BC Federation of Labour, the BC Government, Provincial Health, BC Centre for Disease Control, local health authorities and other partner groups to coordinate our efforts. We listened and sought out guidance from experts, the doctors and scientists – and we ignored the armchair epidemiologists who sounded off on social media.”

Reflecting on his decades of union activism, first at CUPE Local 15, where he served 12 years as president, and then at CUPE BC, Faoro thanked the generations of union leaders and activists who helped him along the way. “I am so lucky to have met many amazing people early on in my Local 15 days who not only were great friends, but also helped me navigate the union movement and immersed me into progressive politics. People like Rick Gates, Mike Plunkett, Patrick Newton and Jim Green. While these wonderful people have now passed on – I will never forget them.”

Faoro pointed to CUPE’s organizing successes, both before and during the pandemic, which have seen the union grow from 82,000 members six years ago to more than 100,000 members today. “The most important part of that growth is not that CUPE BC has 20,000 more members; it’s that those 20,000 workers are building better lives for themselves because they’re union members.”

CUPE BC’s Convention 2021 continues online today through Friday. For more information, see https://www.cupe.bc.ca/convention_2021, and to see the convention photo gallery, check out CUPE BC’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CUPEBC

 

Share this

Latest News

Budget 2024 tackles economic uncertainty with investments in public services and affordability – CUPE BC

Budget 2024 tackles economic uncertainty with investments in public services and affordability – CUPE BC

February 22, 2024
VICTORIA— Budget 2024 continues the BC NDP’s record of making meaningful investments in the public services that matter to people and communities, and creating and expanding programs that make life…
VICTORIA— Budget 2024 continues the BC NDP’s record of making meaningful investments in the public services that matter to people and communities, and creating and expanding programs that make life...

District of Chetwynd workers ratify new contract

District of Chetwynd workers ratify new contract

February 15, 2024
CHETWYND – After a collaborative round of negotiations CUPE 3052 members, municipal workers in the District of Chetwynd, have overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract. The new agreement includes wage…
CHETWYND – After a collaborative round of negotiations CUPE 3052 members, municipal workers in the District of Chetwynd, have overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract. The new agreement includes wage...

CUPE 1978 ratifies new agreement with Greater Victoria Housing Society

CUPE 1978 ratifies new agreement with Greater Victoria Housing Society

February 13, 2024
VICTORIA – CUPE 1978 members at the Greater Victoria Housing Society have ratified a new five-year agreement that provides improved working conditions for CUPE members, as well as enhanced supportive housing…
VICTORIA – CUPE 1978 members at the Greater Victoria Housing Society have ratified a new five-year agreement that provides improved working conditions for CUPE members, as well as enhanced supportive housing...