ST. JOHN’S – CUPE members from across Newfoundland and Labrador will be joining more than 2,000 other delegates in Vancouver starting Sunday, October 30, for the union’s national convention.
CUPE NL President Wayne Lucas says there are 50 delegates attending from this province. It is the union’s 25th biennial convention.
Lucas says, “The convention will also include a small tribute to NL activist Nancy Riche who recently passed away and was a role model for all trade unionists as well as being a staunch New Democrat.
Riche had been CUPE’s chief election officer at each national convention since 2003. Says Lucas, “She brought humour and warmth to our proceedings and had been scheduled to be with us in Vancouver again this year.”
The country’s largest union will also be saying goodbye to National Secretary Treasurer Claude Genereux who will be stepping down after this convention.
Says Lucas, “Genereux lead the union for the past ten years as one of our two, full-time national officers and has put our union in tremendous financial shape.”
Lucas will be offering himself again at the convention for the position of Regional Vice President.