APRIL 29 - MAY 2, 2015 • 52nd ANNUAL CUPE BC CONVENTION • BC convention update

TOP STORY FRIDAY, MAY 1

Agenda Highlights

9 am SECRETARY-TREASURER’S REPORT Paul Faoro 10 am MAY DAY PRESENTATION A History of Action video 11 am NATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER’S REPORT Charles Fleury 2 pm KEYNOTE SPEAKER Stephen Lewis Time to build a better : 4 pm BC NDP LEADER Moist fires up delegates 8 pm - 1 am CUPE National President Paul Moist brought Gregor Robertson by implying that CUPE’s RECEPTION AND DANCE delegates out of their seats on Thursday endorsement of Vision Vancouver was Music by Incognito Stanley Park Ballroom (2nd floor) with a rousing convention address that somehow corrupt. congratulated B.C. activists for their solidarity in recent campaigns and called on “CUPE is proud of our political activity,” he all members to help elect an NDP federal said, “and we will not be silenced by right- government in the fall. wingers.” Convention Moist saluted the 27,000 K-12 members Turning to the federal scene, Moist said who supported the BCTF during last year’s that defeating the Harper Conservatives on is on strike, the CUPE 608 members who spent 10 October 19 means talking about more than months on the line while the United Church what to vote against. Twitter! pushed to close Naramata Centre, the CUPE Win an iPad! 7000 members who have been locked out “We need to reclaim our democracy. How @JeffVirtanen Paul Moist gives inspiring by Southern Railway since January 5, and about a federal government that respects speech at #cupebc15 and condemns CUPE 873 for its “Imagine a World Without free collective bargaining rights? How about possible job cuts on Vancouver Island. Paramedics” campaign. a federal government that restores proper federal Medicare funding, and fights to @unsung32 @CUPENatPres gets a Citing the more than 200 CUPE-endorsed create a national, not for profit, $15-a-day standing ovation as he announces we’re candidates who won office in local school child care system? taking back Canada! #cupebc15 board and council elections last November, Moist singled out Locals 399 and 1048 The best way to achieve this, he said, is to @kylaepstein First standing ovation of day for helping elect a new majority labour- elect the first NDP federal government, with at #cupebc15 is in support of endorsed council in Prince George. He also as Prime Minister. CupeLocal1004 members’ work @ took aim at the right wing Non-Partisan InsiteVan and #PHS Association for slandering CUPE BC, Local “Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done,” he 1004, Councillor Geoff Meggs and Mayor said, echoing late NDP leader . Feeling the love for Libby Meet new CUPE delegates Cory Thomas Emotions ran high as Vancouver East MP the first time in Canada’s history. CUPE 523, Aboriginal Libby Davies brought greetings on behalf “We have to believe in ourselves,” said Education Worker from of Tom Mulcair and the federal NDP. Libby. “At the end of the day there are Enderby She might be leaving politics after almost some fundamental values that are 20 years as an MP and another 20 before unshakable for us – equality, fairness, a that as a civic politician and community Canada that cares for people and does not organizer, but it was vintage Libby on the leave them behind.” In my“ school district my aboriginal CUPE BC convention stage. education department was quite small. Given that B.C. is a key battleground in the She reminded us that we are at a critical next election, Libby encouraged delegates At that time moment in Canada’s history, with the NDP to get rid of Stephen Harper by electing there was only poised to form government in for NDP candidates. 18 of us. Our shop steward was stepping down and they were looking for somebody and I thought it would be a good thing to do – to make sure that aboriginal workers in School District 83 were represented fairly.

This is my first convention. I’m just excited to learn and soak it all up. I’m hoping to get more involved and I’m just excited about all of it.

Retiring Vancouver East MP Libby Davies urges delegates to complete the work of the late Jack Layton and elect Canada’s first-ever federal NDP government

CUPE BC Young Workers Task Force members about to set sail on a three-hour cruise Thursday night

COPE 378 Keep up-to-date on convention at: Use our convention hashtag: cupebc2015.ca #cupebc15