BURNABY, BC—The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) BC President Barry O’Neill announced today that the union will expand its protest of Bill 12, the Teachers’ Collective Agreement Act, beginning Monday October 17th.
“Since October 7th, the first day of the teachers’ political protest against the legislation, 25,000 CUPE school support workers have been out with the teachers. The other members of CUPE in B.C. are ready to join the fight,” said O’Neill.
“I am announcing that on Monday, October 17th CUPE members on Vancouver Island will be participating in a political protest and will not be reporting for work. We will be making further announcements about other regions of the province in the next few days,” said O’Neill.
“I’m proud of CUPE members who have said very strongly that they feel it is time to act in the face of unacceptable government legislation and action,” said O’Neill.
There are approximately 12,500 CUPE members on Vancouver Island who work in many sectors including school, municipal, healthcare, social services, and post-secondary education.
For more information:
Roseanne Moran
CUPE communications representative
(778) 835-7537
Barry O’Neil
CUPE BC president
(604) 916-8444