(VANCOUVER) Judy Darcy has been re-elected as National President of Canadas largest and fastest growing union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees. Darcy received the overwhelming support of the 2,200 delegates attending CUPEs national convention in Vancouver.
A library worker from Toronto, Darcy is a fierce opponent of privatization and defender of workers rights. The privateers have identified CUPE as the Number One obstacle to their plans to profit from public services, said Darcy. Were proud of that fact and plan to keep up our fight.
Addressing delegates, Darcy warned about the threat of rising racism and intolerance in Canada. We are being tested as a society about how we deal with differences and dissent, she said. This is not a time to retreat from our commitment to build a better world a world free of huge economic and racial divides.
Darcy was first elected head of CUPE in 1991. At the time she was the only woman to lead a major national union. She has been re-elected to two-year terms five times.
CUPE has grown rapidly under Darcys leadership, bringing in more than 33,000 new members in the last two years. During her presidency, the union has gained 100,000 new members through organizing and mergers with other unions.
CUPE represents more than a half million women and men who work in health care, education, municipalities, social services, utilities, libraries, transportation, airlines and emergency services. For more information on CUPE, visit cupe.ca.
Photos of Judy Darcy can be downloaded from Epix or cupe.ca.
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For information, contact:
Robert Fox|, CUPE Communications (613) 795-4977