CUPE convention supports sustainability resolutions
Coquitlam Now
April 23, 2008

The 45th annual convention of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, B.C. division, concluded Saturday with delegates approving an action plan for the next year that continues the union's role in promoting issues of community and environmental sustainability.

Delegates passed 56 resolutions, including those to support co-ordinated bargaining efforts and campaigns to protect public services such as child care, and others reinforcing the union's commitment to fight public-private partnerships…

Earlier, B.C. Federation of Labour president Jim Sinclair urged delegates to become more involved in upcoming civic and provincial elections.

Sinclair, in the final guest speech of the convention, cited a lengthy list of reasons that political change is necessary.

"The records we're setting in Canada are not good for us here in B.C.," he said. "We have the highest child poverty rate, and right now there are 11,500 people sleeping on the streets of B.C. -- that's double the number from six years ago."