CUPE 1004 celebrated its 100th birthday this week with a gala reception at the city-owned Pavilion in Stanley Park.
As well as lots of rank-and-file city workers and shop stewards, the event attracted an impressive list of longtime 1004 and CUPE movers and shakers. Those on hand to cut the cake included CUPE 1004 president Mike Jackson, longtime former president Dave Long, CUPE local 15 president (and former 1004 member) Paul Faoro, CUPE BC secretary-treasurer Mark Hancock, CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill and CUPE national president Paul Moist.
O’Neill noted that while he had just been congratulating CUPE on turning 50, 1004 just passed the century mark. The predecessor of 1004 joined CUPE in 1966. In June, 1912 the union acquired a Charter from the International Hod Carriers, Building and Common Laborer’s Union of America (bricklayers and plasterers) and called itself the Civic and General Laborer’s Union. The union received its own charter in 1917 and became the Vancouver Civic Employees Federal Labour Union, Local 28.
The local and CUPE national recently released an illustrated history of 1004 entitled Our First Hundred Years that that includes work stories from 1004 members.
CUPE 1004 represents 2,500 members who provide clean water and safe sanitary systems, repair potholes, sidewalks and streets, maintain parks and facilities, collect garbage and recycling and maintain Vancouver’s landfill. CUPE 1004 also represents members who work at the PNE, Easy Park, PHS Community Services Society, Co-Development Canada and the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators (FPSE), Capilano Students’ Union and staff from various college and university faculty associations.
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