B.C.’s largest health care union holds biennial convention Oct. 15-20 in Richmond

Premier Ujjal Dosanjh and CUPE national president Judy Darcy to address delegates

More than 600 health care workers from across B.C. will gather in Richmond next week for the biennial convention of the 46,000-member Hospital Employees’ Union. The convention takes place in a special tent erected on the grounds of the Richmond Inn located on the Westminister Highway at Minoru Blvd.

Delegates will debate a range of issues including proposals to strengthen public Medicare, improve health care delivery and fight privatization. Nineteen positions on the provincial executive are up for election at the convention. Incumbent president Fred Muzin and financial secretary Mary LaPlante are both seeking re-election. The union’s chief spokesperson, secretary-business manager Chris Allnutt, is up for ratification by delegates.

Highlights of particular interest to the media include:

October 16

  • 9:15 a.m - Judy Darcy, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees addresses delegates
  • 10:45 a.m. - Premier Ujjal Dosanjh addresses delegates
  • 1:30 a.m. - HEU’s chief spokesperson Chris Allnutt reports to delegates

    • October 17

  • 9:00 a.m. - Delegates mark the World March of Women by recognizing four women trail blazers in HEU — B.C.’s largest union of women

    • Media are welcome to attend the convention sessions which start at 9:00 a.m., Sunday through Friday. A room is available from which members of the media can file stories.