Open letter to CUPE members in B.C.

My friends,

This will be my final web column as president of CUPE British Columbia. As you know, on November 4 I was honoured to be elected as your national president. Though I have already taken on my new responsibilities in Ottawa, I wanted to say a few words to each and every one of our 85,000 members in B.C.

Most importantly, thank you. Thank you for your support over my terms as secretary-treasurer and president of CUPE BC, but more importantly thank you for everything you do, every day, to make our communities, our province and our country better places to live and work. The vital public services you provide truly are the foundation of our communities and you don’t get nearly enough recognition for your work. Again, thank you.

It’s been an absolute privilege to have served our great union in British Columbia and I can assure you I won’t forget where I come from! I will continue to make B.C. my home, and as national president I will make every effort to support CUPE members in B.C., whether on the picket line or in the community.

I also want to thank Brother Paul Moist, our outgoing national president, for his 12 years of outstanding service and leadership. Paul has definitely left big shoes to fill, but I will do my best, for all of our more than 630,000 members across this great country.

Thank you again for all your support and the work you do every day. I will do my best to make you proud, and to continue making our union even stronger.

Mark Hancock is President of CUPE BC, representing 85,000 workers in communities across BC.