VANCOUVER - When Pierre Karl Peladeau locked out the 252 workers of the Journal de Quebec on April 22, 2007, he may have broken the hearts of loyal workers who had never spent a day on strike in their 40-year history. But even a year later, he has still not broken their spirit.
The 406 convention delegates rose to their feet in support of these workers yesterday as Marc Fortier and Marie France Loubier told stories that have accumulated in emotional impact after five CUPE division conventions.
CUPE members in B.C., who have felt the wrath of thoughtless and sometimes vicious employers this year, showed their solidarity with a tremendous outpouring of financial support. B.C. delegate donations could well surpass $70,000 once all the pledges are in and the national union has matched the local member collection.