VANCOUVER—Six hundred delegates will arrive here tomorrow to attend the 45th annual convention of the B.C. division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. The convention, which runs until Saturday (April 16-19) at the downtown Hyatt Regency, opens at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
This year’s convention, themed “Building Sustainable Communities”, will focus on local development issues and the union’s continuing efforts to promote progressive economic alternatives to privatization. Following a 10-minute video featuring CUPE’s activities in B.C. since last year’s convention, CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill will deliver the opening night address.
This year’s international guest speaker, U.S. economist Michael Shuman, will discuss local economic development issues and globalization in his convention address on Friday afternoon (April 18) at 3 p.m. Other guest speakers are federal NDP leader Jack Layton (April 18, 11:15 a.m.), BC NDP leader Carole James (April 17, 1:30 p.m.), and BC Federation of Labour president Jim Sinclair (April 19, 11 a.m.).
CUPE National president Paul Moist will deliver his report to convention on April 17 at 11 a.m., with CUPE National secretary-treasurer Claude Généreux following with his report at 4 p.m., also on April 17.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 16 until Saturday, April 19, 2008
WHERE: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Vancouver-30-
Contact: Roseanne Moran, CUPE Communications, 778-835-7537
Dan Gawthrop, CUPE Communications, 604-999-6132
Convention information