DELEGATES TACKLE CONTRACTING OUT STRUGGLES IN B.C.

DEFENDING PUBLIC SERVICES A NEVER-ENDING FIGHT

VICTORIA | Delegates to this year’s CUPE BC convention (April 26-29) found transit issues to be a constant theme as they renewed the Union’s commitment to defending public services.

Making B.C. workplaces safer was high on the agenda, thanks to a recent spike in violent incidents on or around public transit in the Lower Mainland. The CUPE 561 strike reminded delegates of the importance of public transit to B.C. communities. As Convention began, more than two hundred transit workers in the Fraser Valley were still walking picket lines after five weeks, with no end to the dispute in sight.

“We have never shied away from a difficult fight,” said CUPE BC President Karen Ranalletta in her opening address, pledging to support CUPE 561 members throughout their struggle for wage fairness and retirement security. Ranalletta was just the first of many speakers convention delegates in support of these CUPE members, who are fighting for wages in line with other transit workers and a pension from First Transit, the multinational corporation contracted to provide transit services in Fraser Valley communities.

“We have never shied away from a difficult fight,” said CUPE BC President Karen Ranalletta in her opening address, pledging to support CUPE 561 members throughout their struggle for wage fairness and retirement security.

Secretary-Treasurer

Trevor Davies assured delegates that CUPE BC has the resources to back up CUPE 561 and all CUPE members in B.C. CUPE President Mark Hancock and Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick pledged the union’s national support for CUPE 561.

Hancock was one of several national and B.C. labour leaders at Convention who participated in the National Day of Mourning rally hosted by CUPE BC.

BCFED President Sussanne Skidmore and Secretary-Treasurer Hermender

Singh Kailley, along with CLC President Bea Bruske, also brought greetings to delegates, as did HEU President Barb Nederpel, who also presided over convention elections. CUPE New Brunswick President Stephen Drost joined other labour organizers for the Organizing to Win! forum moderated by lawyer and human rights expert Adrienne Smith.

Many guest speakers addressed the challenges that the rising cost of living and inflation have posed for workers, their families, and communities. They included B.C. Premier David Eby, who addressed Convention for the first time as premier and leader of the BCNDP.

“Workers are facing big challenges…. There are people out there that believe we should be addressing these challenges with cuts and more privatization of public services,” said Eby, sharing what he’s heard from other premiers. “The labour movement and this government don’t believe in this race to the bottom. Workers don’t deserve this.”

Ranalletta wrapped up Convention 2023 with a thank-you to delegates for their thoughtful and respectful debate, hard work, and energy. Over the four days, delegates passed 48 resolutions setting the direction ahead for CUPE BC.

MEET YOUR NEW EXECUTIVE BOARD!

Convention 2023 was an election year for CUPE BC. Karen Ranalletta was acclaimed to a second term as president while Trevor Davies was acclaimed to another term as secretarytreasurer, a position he’s held since 2015. Members elected to the executive board for a two-year term are as follows:

President

Karen Ranalletta

Secretary-Treasurer

Trevor Davies

General Vice-Presidents

Dal Benning

Sheryl Burns

Amber Leonard

Tony Rebelo

Diversity Vice-Presidents & Alternates

Indigenous Workers

Debra Merrier

Taily Willis — Alternate

Persons with Disabilities

Laurie Whyte

Monica Brady — Alternate

Pink Triangle

Joyce Griffiths

Hailey Fielden — Alternate

Racialized Workers

Edward Parsotam

Cindy Ozouf — Alternate

Regional Vice-Presidents

Fraser Valley

Sara Manchester

Ryan Doman — Alternate

Kootenays

Anita Early

Michelle Bennett — Alternate

Metro Vancouver

Sarah Bjorknas

Donald Grant

Lee-Ann Lalli

Chloe Martin-Cabanne — Alternate

North

Paula Bass

Jeanette Beauvillier — Alternate

Okanagan

Nicole Cabrejos

Lois Rugg — Alternate

Vancouver Island

Dan MacBeth

Kirk Mercer

Tiffany McLaughlin — Alternate

PROGRESSIVE CHANGE REQUIRES SOLID TEAMWORK, PLANNING

One thing I’ve always appreciated about CUPE is our strength and resilience as an organization: the fact we maintain our solidarity despite whatever obstacles are thrown at us, always finding ways to overcome or adjust to new realities. This has never been truer than since the pandemic. If anything, the challenges of the past three years have made us stronger; they’ve demonstrated that we are stronger together, and that when we work together, we win.

In some ways, the election of a BCNDP government in 2017— and its re-election three years later— has simplified our efforts to achieve meaningful change at the provincial level. It’s a lot easier to map out your future as an organization when you’re working with a government that isn’t trying to destroy you but, on the contrary, sees you as part of a team trying to make things better for all British Columbians. But in some ways, there’s more pressure to deliver: the scars of those 16 years of BC Liberal rule have yet to heal completely, so it seems all the more critical that we redouble our efforts to achieve lasting progressive change.

Think strategically, act collaboratively

Those changes begin with the B.C. Labour Code. This government has helped workers organize the unorganized, held employers accountable for interfering with our organizing efforts, and protected workers in situations of contract flipping. Thanks to our collaborative relationship, the BCNDP has also brought in card check certification, which has enabled workers to rise up, organize and seek justice without employer interference. This is making a huge difference in the lives of workers, families and communities everywhere in B.C.

Such achievements do not happen in a vacuum but require the same commitment to strategic planning that we apply to everything we do. More than anything, it’s about relationships.

It all starts with CUPE BC, whose leadership in political action is critical to our success as a union. Working with the B.C. Division, our Strong Communities Working Group is such an important tool for the region. This group of staff leads political campaigns, supports local and provincial government engagement, coordinates anti-privatization projects and fight-backs, and facilitates local community organizing.

These same principles of strategic planning and teamwork apply at the bargaining table. The improvements we have seen in our collective agreements over the past year reflect the strength of our resolve to deliver tangible wins for members— not something we could have achieved alone. Our work to build relationships and solidarity— both within our union and with our allies in the labour movement— allowed us to achieve unprecedented monetary improvements across provincial sectors.

Expanding our coalition

As successful as our bargaining may be, there are challenges facing our province and communities that transcend labour relations. From the affordability and housing crises, mental health and addiction challenges, and climate change, to the fight to defend public services— including the provision of public childcare —we know that decisions affecting our members are being made in council chambers and around board tables every day.

With that mind, CUPE in the B.C. region has worked on building and strengthening our relationships at the local level. While our work with the provincial government remains our primary political engagement, the decision-makers in organizations such as the BC School Trustees’ Association, the BC Library Association, the Union of BC Municipalities and its area associations have a tremendous role to play in addressing issues in our workplaces and communities— issues that can be every bit as local as provincial in scope.

This is how we address the larger issues affecting our members and communities. By organizing, not agonizing. By putting in the hard work, and by expanding our coalition. By making political action part of our monthly, weekly, and daily work. Because it is not just what we do during elections that matters; equally important is the political engagement and relationship-building that happens in between them.