Hey Y'All - I'm Running for Re-Election as General Vice President of CUPE BC!

I am so excited to seek re-election as General Vice President at our CUPE BC convention this week. 

I am so proud to have the endorsement of my local, CUPE 2950 (clerical, library and theatre workers at the University of British Columbia), as well as (for the fourth time) the CUPE Metro District Council to run for re-election.

At the Building Strong Locals conference in Halifax earlier this month, I was asked what made me a proud to be a CUPE member? The answer was easy.

"CUPE members."

The work you do is vital to the sustainability of our communities and I don't think I can say enough how proud I am to have been your GVP for the past 2 years. 
 

I've had the opportunity to represent CUPE BC in various capacities - at the executive officers' table of the BC Federation of Labour, at various community ally board meetings (CCPA and the BC Labour Heritage Centre), community events (childcare marches, Vaisakhi, International Women's Day, public education forums, rallies), conferences  (Summer Institute for Union Women, Canadian Library Association and BC Library Association conferences, CUPE National conferences), and as a guest at other union's conventions/events.

Details of my credentials/resume can be found here.

There are so many reasons why I am running for re-election. These are the three pillars that make up my platform:

• To continue building and strengthening solidarity with the affiliate unions of the BC Federation of Labour. 
  
  
  CUPE BC is the largest union in the province and it is important that we influence the strategic direction of our labour movement. I've worked very hard over the past few years as one of your Officers of the BC Fed to build relationships with labour leaders from around the province. This relationship building has resulted in greater collaboration with both private and public sector unions which is essential in order to work towards the kind of province that truly supports workers. 
  
  
  Last year, I championed for a women's lobby on government for International Women's Day. Along with several women leaders from the BC Fed, we lobbied all three parties in government on three issues: childcare, $15 minimum wage and sexual assault services (in particular, lack of rape kits) in BC. We gave the NDP the information they needed to put the Minister of Health on the spot in question period, which seemingly put the pressure on them to do something. 6 weeks later the government announced that there would be a rape kit at UBC.
  
  
  
  

• To continue finding creative ways to work with employer associations like the BC Library Association (BCLA).  
  
  
  BCLA is starting to come to us for input and information on issues that directly affect our members. Last year, CUPE BC made a submission to the provincial government on the Public Libraries' Strategic Plan. For the first time ever, our members' voices were heard at that level. 
  
  
  At last week's BCLA Conference, our session had 150+ conference delegates (CUPE members, management, board trustees and administration) attend our panel discussion on "Measuring Value Beyond Walls" - where we brought in four progressive panelists (all of whom were either current or former CUPE members) to emphasize that libraries intersect so many public services talk about the positive impact our libraries and the work that library workers do, have in our communities. I moderated the discussion and was so proud that we took a seemingly tired topic in the library sector out of its vacuum and had meaningful progressive dialogue.
    
  I think having more CUPE members attend this conference that ever before coupled  with the high interest in our conference session demonstrates the hard work I've done to cement CUPE BC as a key stakeholder in the library world and would like to work towards replicating that success in other sectors.
  
  
  
  
• To continue fighting for equity and inclusion.  
  
  
  At last year’s BC Fed convention, a recommendation from the Human Rights Committee report to not donate to organizations that excluded transgendered people was going to come to the floor. Vancouver Rape Relief, an organization that excludes trans* women, showed up and tried to convince delegates to vote against that recommendation. I approached all of my contacts from various unions on the floor and within 10 minutes, the pro mics were stacked 25-30 deep in support of our trans* members. 
  
  
  That is the outcome of true solidarity for a stronger and more inclusive labour movement in British Columbia.
  
  
  
  

I have a track record of turning words into action - whether that’s championing the aforementioned BC Fed women’s lobby in Victoria, taking my #NDPfeet door-knocking in our communities to elect progressive candidates, speaking on a variety of issues at any convention, or honing my financial literacy to meaningfully engage as your CUPE National Trustee, you can count on me to do the work.

At this year’s convention I am looking forward to meeting CUPE members from around the province to discuss the future of our union and to continue to support the great work our locals do on behalf of all working people in BC.

See you on the floor!