Convention Snapshots

I'm back from the 2005 CUPE BC Convention in Victoria, where about 500 of us passed several resolutions, elected a new executive, and bid a fond farewell to outgoing Secretary Treasurer (and prospective Burnaby City councilor) Colleen Jordan.

Here are my highlights from the four days:

-The first convention appearance for Local 2010 (Whistler Municipal Workers), who appear to be the only workers in Whistler who don't get a cost of living allowance to afford to actually live where they work. Busloads of labour activists will be at Town Council Monday night to drive that point home.

-The resolution opposing BC-STV was passed, which may or may not have something to do with Dave Barrett's lambasting BC-STV at a CUPE BC Political Action Conference earlier this year.

-A noticeable split on the issue of CUPE BC supporting U.S. War Resisters in Canada. A few members stated that they signed up for a job and they couldn't just quit. Remind me not to take a school custodial position in Surrey, especially if they're using tazers on anyone's genitals.

-The Liberals unveiled their plans to privatize B.C.'s school support services at a P3 conference in Toronto a few weeks ago. A Liberal victory could mean workers in K-12 schools could become the HEU of 2006.

-Carole James delivered almost the same speech to us that she delivered to the Vancouver Board of Trade. Biggest crowd-pleasers were the pledge to stop privatization of health care and the tuition freeze. Two words a substantial portion of the delegates wanted to hear, "Pay Equity", were not heard during her speech. Note to the handlers: Moderate is fine, but not to the point of bland - when you're speaking to your base you're supposed to activate them, not the other way around.

-The closest thing I've seen to a "Less Filling - Tastes Great" debate took place on a constitutional resolution which would automatically have the Chair test delegates to close debate if four consecutive speakers spoke for/or against. The resolution failed.

-My Local passed a resolution calling for the definition of 'Age' to be removed from the Human Rights code, as some of our older members who can't afford to retire are being leaned on.

-Several plainclothes RCMP officers were drifting around the Hotel on Thursday and Friday - the rumour was Paulie Pockets was making a detour after his "pre-campaign" visit with Larry Campbell to get a little golf in.

The May 17th election dominated the proceedings, with a clear message that CUPE BC will need to stay focussed and ready for action no matter what the result is. We could get another four years of Gordon Campbell, or we could eventually end up with another NDP government that tries to please everyone and ends up pleasing no one. Either way, the CUPE BC wheel is being left to squeak.