BRANDON More than 300 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees from around the province will meet in Brandon tomorrow for the Union’s 39th Annual Convention that runs until Saturday at the Keystone Centre.
CUPE National President Judy Darcy, who has been leading the Union’s cross-country fight against the privatization of Canada’s public Medicare health care system, will address delegates on Thursday afternoon.
“Medical savings accounts, individual health debit cards, user fees, massive increases in health care premiums, private clinics and hospitals that’s what’s on the agenda in Alberta as the Klein government moves full steam ahead with the Mazankowsi Report with no interference from our federal government,” says Darcy. “It’s critical that the Manitoba government continue to take a strong stand on the national stage because what happens in this coming year is going to determine the future of Medicare in Canada for decades to come.”
Manitoba’s Premier Gary Doer will speak to CUPE delegates on Friday morning at 11:00 a.m.
CUPE Manitoba President Paul Moist says he expects a busy and productive convention. “With the majority of CUPE Manitoba’s members at the bargaining table this year, we have a lot to talk about,” says Moist. CUPE’s 10,000 health care support workers have been negotiating since the end of February. Their current contract expires at the end of the month.
- WHAT:
CUPE NATIONAL PRESIDENT JUDY DARCY
ADDRESSES CUPE MANITOBA CONVENTION- WHEN:
THURSDAY, APRIL 18 AT 2:30 P.M.- WHERE:
KEYSTONE CENTRE, 18th STREET, BRANDON
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada’s largest union representing a half-million women and men across the country. In Manitoba, CUPE represents 24,000 members in health care, education, municipalities, social services, child care, utilities, libraries and emergency services.
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For more information contact:
Doreen Meyer, CUPE Communications
Allen Bleich, CUPE Manitoba Coordinator
Cell: (204) 781-8781