News & Bulletins

Welcome to the NEW CUPE Local 1978 website. If you have any suggestion on content, please contact Coral-Lee Henderson, Recording Secretary @ office@cupe1978.com.

Now's the time to vote YES to end the HST!

As you know, the HST referendum campaign has begun. You should receive a ballot in the mail soon, if you haven’t already. We’re urging all CUPE members in BC to vote “Yes” on the referendum.

Why are we rejecting the HST?

After a lot of thought and debate, we’re opposing the HST for two main reasons. First, the BC Liberal government lied about it. They campaigned in the 2009 election on a promise NOT to bring in an HST, then turned around once safely in office and did exactly the opposite. Now they claim they’ll “fix” what’s wrong with the HST — but only if British Columbians vote the “right” way in the referendum. We say, don’t be fooled twice.

Even if we could trust the Liberals, we’d still be opposed to the HST because it’s a regressive tax that disproportionately costs low and middle income earners more than high income earners. And it shifts nearly $2 billion in tax obligations away from big businesses and corporations and makes working families pick up the slack—each and every year. We say that’s wrong. We say business and high income earners need to pay their fair share of the taxes that pay for the public services we all need.

We’re also encouraging members to get active in the BC NDP’s campaign to stop the HST. CUPE BC is supporting the campaign, and we hope you will support it. To join the BC NDP campaign, or to learn more about why the HST is an unfair tax, go to www.voteyesbc.ca.

Keep Water Public

Safe, secure and public water is rapidly becoming one of the most important issues facing BC residents over the coming months and years. CUPE BC is a strong advocate for continued public ownership and operation of drinking water and waste water facilities, and we reject the drive to privatization and commodification that some local governments are considering. We are working with local activists in Water Watch coalitions throughout the province. For more information on how you can participate in your area, please check out the campaign website at www.keepwaterpublic.ca.

Please read CUPE BC President Barry O'Neill's op-ed from the Vancouver Sun and take a couple of seconds to share it with your friends and contacts on Facebook and Twitter.

Bargaining

CUPE Municipal Locals will begin negotiations with the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Board in June. Read more…