VANCOUVER— Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians, will give a keynote address to open CUPE BC’s education conference in Vancouver on Thursday November 2, 2006.
More than 150 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees who work in B.C. schools, colleges and universities will participate in the conference “Public Education: Meeting the Challenges.”
Barry O’Neill, president of CUPE BC, will open the conference. O’Neill will talk about public policy issues facing education, including the B.C. Liberal government’s recent announcement mandating public-private partnerships for public sector projects in the province.
On Friday and Saturday, conference delegates will talk with education experts and activists about the challenges they face as the front-line staff who keep education institutions running. Violence in the workplace, bullying, under funding, deteriorating facilities due to lack of maintenance funding, privatization, health and safety and the particular issues facing education assistants and special education are some of the topics to be covered.
Members of the media are invited to attend the Thursday night forum. CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill is available for interviews by contacting Roseanne Moran, CUPE national communications representative, 778-835-7537. Maude Barlow will be signing books between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Where: Four Seasons Hotel, 791 W. Georgia Street, Vancouver
When: Thursday, November 2, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Barry O’Neill & Maude Barlow
Contact:
Roseanne Moran
CUPE national communications representative
(778) 835-7537