CUPE BC's 53rd annual convention wraps in Victoria

VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - April 30, 2016) - Delegates to CUPE BC's 53^rd annual convention in Victoria, which concluded today after three days of speeches and debate, acclaimed Paul Faoro to the position of president and Trevor Davies to the position of secretary-treasurer. Alison Pringle was elected to the position of general vice president, and Laurie Whyte was elected to the position of trustee (3-year term.) The elections were made necessary by the election in November of former CUPE BC President Mark Hancock to the office of CUPE's national president.

"I'm honoured to have the support and confidence of the members of our great union to continue our proud tradition of advocacy and representation on behalf of our 85,000 members across B.C.," said Faoro. "We have much work ahead of us as we mobilize our members as never before to take on and help defeat the Christy Clark BC Liberal government in next year's election."

"To have earned the trust of delegates and members to continue in the important role of stewarding our finances is truly humbling," said Davies. "I am committed to ensuring the Division has the necessary resources to support our Locals, District Councils and members across the province, as well as being able to invest in a robust and effective political action program."

Among the resolutions delegates passed was an historic constitutional amendment that will add two diversity seats to the executive board after next year's elections, one representing workers with disabilities and one representing LGBTQ+ workers.

Convention featured keynote speeches from award-winning Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy, outgoing Representative for Child and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, and BC NDP Leader John Horgan, as well as greetings from a wide range of union leaders.

For the first time in CUPE BC's history, the president of the BCGEU was invited to address the Convention, continuing to build the strong relationship between the unions.