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The fight to protect Medicare and other public services dominated the debate at the CUPE B.C. convention this week.

CUPE National President Judy Darcy told about 450 delegates on Thursday, May 9, that BC seniors’ groups are mobilizing to stop any senior from being evicted from a nursing home because of the Campbell government cuts. She urged CUPE members to join them, stating “We should draw a line in the sand and tell Gordon Campbell that he dare not cross.” Fred Muzin, president of CUPE’s Hospital Employees Union, agreed, stating “we need to pay our debt to the generation before us by fighting to protect public health care now,” adding, “it’s a fight we have to win.”

The 450 delegates also debated an emergency resolution, demanding the federal government prosecute the Campbell Liberals for violating the Canada Health Act by privatizing health services. Another emergency resolution called for a moratorium on health care privatization, pending a public inquiry into a plan by private health care corporations to blacklist more than 20,000 HEU members. Transcripts of the plan were exposed last week by B.C. unions. CUPE BC President Barry O’Neill slammed the blacklisting plan and warned the BC government that CUPE members will act in solidarity with HEU members and any one else to defend our public health care system. Contact Beth Smillie (604) 291-1940 for more information.