ST JOHNS Delegates to CUPE Newfoundland and Labradors 30th convention have re-elected Wayne Lucas to another two-year term as provincial president, as well as welcoming news that the national defence fund is strong.
It will be Lucass eighth consecutive term in the job and delegates showed full support for their leader. Lucas was also hailed for his stand on the decriminalization of prostitution. A panel helped clarify the issues surrounding a recent controversy.
CUPE members have already begun the work to defeat the anti-worker agenda of the Danny Williams government knowing full well that our unions strike fund is healthy and strong, CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Claude Gnreux told about 100 delegates.
The people of NL will certainly not forget the attack on public sector workers and their families that took place in April, one that saw 20,000 CUPE and Newfoundland Association of Provincial Employees members on the street for 28 days, Gnreux added.
Delegates passed several resolutions, including one to keep the cleanup of the St. Johns harbour in public hands, and elected a new executive board made up of Lucas, Donna Ryan, vice-president; Dawn Lahey, recording secretary, secretary-treasurer, Ed Whelan, executive officers, Sam Kelly, Warrick Cluney, Kelvin McDonald, and three-year trustee, Fern Cross. The division convention ran Sept. 20-22 instead of in the spring due to the provincial strike.
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