CUPE BC Convention 2025
April 30 – May 3, 2025
Attendance: Tim Baker, Lisa Devitt, Ken Wright, Stacey Robinson, Nancy Williams, Loreen Wanlin, Louise Henry
Day 3, Saturday, May 3rd
Credential Committee Report:
552 members representing 103 locals
522 voting members with 30 alternates
Elections for Metro Vancouver
3 Regional VPs for Metro Vancouver
Lee-Ann Lali
Tammy Murphy
Donald Grant
All acclaimed
1 Alternate Regional VP for Metro Vancouver
Chloe Martin Cabanne
Acclaimed
Elections for CUPE BC
1 President for CUPE BC (2-year term)
Karen Ranalletta
Acclaimed
1 Secretary Treasurer
Tony Rebelo – Elected
Brian Warman
4 General Vice Presidents (2-year term)
Sheryl Burns – Elected
Amber Leonard – Elected
Dal Benning – Elected
Nicole Cabrejos – Elected
Trish Everett
1 Trustee (3 – year term)
David Robertson
Acclaimed
Carole Gordon – President-Elect of the BC Teachers’ Federation
We value the work of CUPE and respect your work, we are connected every day and face the same tough challenges of shortages and lack of funding.
A few weeks ago, CUPE BC and the BCTF went to Victoria to bring the issue of violence in the workplace to our local government. We need to address many issues, recruitment issues, workplace retention, cost of living wage and more. We need this government to know that investing in public services during an economic downturn is not only important but imperative. We must remember that cross board unity and solidarity protects all workers and their rights.
As a mother, teacher and unionist I want to say in closing the public sector workers have helped raise my kids. When I have fun with my kids in a park, a pool, riding the bus you were there. A heartfelt thank you and I celebrate you.
Barb Nederpel – President of the Hospital Employee Union (HEU)
It is also an honour to bring greetings from 60,000 health care workers across the province. It is with heartbreak I bring up the tragedy at the Lapu Lapu celebration. We need to build a world where joy is protected, and one endures pain alone. I want to thank the workers who rushed into to help and support our Philippino community.
Thanks to CUPE BC thousands of people will have access to public care across the province. CUPE and HEU have always been allies. We worked hard to elect a labour friendly government. I’m proud that we did this together and that is what solidarity looks like.
We are recovering from years of Liberal roll backs. Insecurity in the face of Trumps tariff war is real. Political action does not stop at the ballot box, and we need to keep fighting. Private care homes, violence in the workplace is a symptom of under funding and under staffing. This is the time to build power and not a time to back down. CUPE BC is a pillar of our solidarity and thank you for showing up.
Julia MacRae – President Co Development Canada
It’s a privilege to stand before the mighty CUPE BC. A bit of information about your partners.
Your partner in Cuba is using the ongoing funds you provide for training for their workers. You also send food, phones and sports equipment, all which have helped immensely.
Your partner in Colombia, a vigorous resistant movement, are some of the poorest people in the world, next to a port that send the richest of Colombia all over the world. Your contributions help them immensely.
Your partner in Honduras, an inspiring radical group of women, labouring under impossible conditions. Sometimes working 11 hours a week, without breaks. They are demanding new laws that would require the employer to provide pensions and health and safety training.
Resolutions
No. 1: Strike Pay – Passed
No. 2: Online Registration Deadline – Passed
No. 3: Acceptance of Delegate Credentials – Passed
No. 4: Alternates – Passed
No. 5: Retiree Delegates – Defeated
No. 117: Efforts to ensure front line workers safety – Passed
No. 115: Improve funding to the Labour Relations Board –
No. 99/100: Support for those experiencing domestic and gender-based violence – Passed
No. 105: Oversight to ensure substance-use treatment is culturally safe – Passed
No. 90: Affordable access to counselling services – Passed
No. 88: Artificial intelligence protections for workers – Passed
No. 110: Advocate for a safe and regulated supply of drugs – Passed
No. 102: Increase access to subsidized housing – Passed
No. 91: Publicly funded hospice care – Passed
No. 104: Naloxone training and accessibility – Passed
No. 73/74: Continue campaign for universal public school age childcare – Passed
No. 107: Cost-of-living adjustments to social assistance amounts – Passed
No. 114: Public availability of intranasal naloxone kits – Passed
No. 89: Enact a provincial artificial intelligence and data act – Passed
No. 109: Advocate for supportive housing – Passed
No. 92: Change Canada Revenue Agency rule on taxable honorariums – Passed
No. 106: Endorse Canadian Drug Policy Coalition’s document “to End a Crises: Vision for BC Drug Policy – Passed
No.108: Redirect resources from involuntary treatment to publicly funded voluntary treatment – Passed
No. 96: Request the National Union provide secure, Canadian server space – Passed
No. 94: Housing affordability campaigns – Passed
No. 101: Enshrine automatic reviews for those in mental health or addiction-related involuntary detention – Passed
No. 95: Advocate for humane and equitable solutions to BC housing crisis – Passed
No. 93: Request the National Union provide employer services to local officers – Passed
No. 22: Targeted funding for food insecurity – Passed
No. 83: Improve seniors income supports – Passed
No. 10: Indigenous education workshops series – Passed