NOTICE TO EDITORS
More than 500 front-line health and social services workers from across B.C. gather in Richmond this week for the 24th biennial convention of the 41,000-member Hospital Employees’ Union (CUPE). The convention gets underway Monday, October 18 and continues through Friday, October 22.
Delegates will be focused on strengthening the union, and on recovering lost ground for health care workers who’ve been at the centre of unprecedented government attacks on free collective bargaining.
They’ll be debating changes to the union’s governance and bargaining structures, strategies to fight health care cuts and privatization, and ways to engage members in provincial politics. Delegates will also elect 20 members of the union’s provincial executive.
Acting secretary-business manager Zorica Bosancic delivers her report to delegates at approximately 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 19.
Media are welcome to attend the convention at the Richmond Inn (Westminster Hwy. and Minoru Blvd.). The convention is called to order at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 18 and reconvenes at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday through Friday. Microphone feeds are available on the convention floor.
CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS (all times approximate):
Monday, October 18 2:00 p.m. — Mary LaPlante, HEU’s financial secretary, reports to delegates Tuesday, October 19 1:30 p.m. — Jim Sinclair, president of the BC Federation of Labour, addresses delegates 2:00 p.m. — Zorica Bosancic, HEU acting secretary-business manager, reports to delegates 3:30 p.m. — Fred Muzin, HEU president, reports to delegates Thursday, October 21 3:30 p.m. — Maude Barlow, Council of Canadians, addresses delegates 7:00 p.m. — Carole James, leader of the B.C. New Democratic Party, addresses delegates (Ballroom — Minoru A,B,C,D) Friday, October 22 10:45 a.m. — Alfonso Naranjo, former executive officer, Association of Colombian Hospital Workers (ANTHOC), will address the delegates