Premier Ujjal Dosanjh, CUPE president Judy Darcy speak to more than 600 health care workers Monday in Richmond

And HEU's Chris Allnutt will report to convention delegates on the political and bargaining climate facing the 46,000-member union

This morning, Premier Ujjal Dosanjh speaks to more than 600 health care workers from across B.C. who are gathered in Richmond this 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 are expecting Dosanjh to expand on his comments concerning B.C.'s health care system that are contained in an exclusive interview appearing in this week's issue of HEU's newspaper, The Guardian.

Also this morning, delegates will hear from Judy Darcy, national president of the 485,000-member Canadian Union of Public Employees. Darcy will offer her perspective on last month's "health accord" between the Prime Minister and the provincial premiers. CUPE is a vocal opponent of privatized health care.

HEU secretary-business manager Chris Allnutt will deliver a "state of the union" report to delegates that will detail union members' recent successes and outline the challenges facing health care workers in the context of a looming provincial election and a major round of collective bargaining.

October 16

  • 9:15 a.m - Judy Darcy, CUPE national president
  • 10:45 a.m. - Premier Ujjal Dosanjh
  • 1:30 p.m. - Chris Allnutt, HEU secretary-business manager
  • Media are welcome to attend the convention starting at 9:00 a.m. Registration is in the Garden View Room and Room 175 is available for the use of media to file stories.