CANDIDATE FOR VICE PRESIDENT

I am asking for your support so that I may continue to use my skills and voice to work with you, because we are the union. United in purpose, our diverse experiences, abilities and knowledge is what gives the BCGEU its strength.

I am deeply committed to speaking out on behalf of members from all components and areas of the province. I have worked hard to promote and advance our campaigns and issues – challenging government, employers and sometimes our own labour movement.

A strong effective voice

As your vice president, I have been an effective voice and representative for all members. Many of you will have heard me at BCGEU, BC Federation of Labour and NUPGE conventions when I stepped up to the microphone to speak passionately and to articulate the concerns of members.

I am known for my creativity and ideas, but I am equally known for putting my ideas into action and not just within the BCGEU. I have promoted issues and initiated some changes as a member of the BC Federation of Labour (BCFL) Executive Council, chair of the BCFL Human Rights Committee, and a member of the Canadian Labour Congress Human Rights Committee.

From city council meetings to public forums, I have presented on a range of topics including human rights, climate change, child care, poverty, health care, food security, migrant workers, highways maintenance standards, public services, anti-bullying, and labour history. We must continue to get our message out to a wider audience.

As a front-line government worker, I have not forgotten the actions of the BC Liberal government when they first slashed services and programs and cut so many workers, our members.

I was one of the workers whose position was deemed redundant and I tell people that if not for my union who negotiated provisions in our collective agreement, I and many others would not be here today. We cannot let people forget what happened then or what’s happening now.

Our members are dedicated to providing quality services and see increased workloads, the devaluing of their work, and a widening gap between the have and have-nots.

Instead of offering respect, fair wages and decent working conditions, government and other employers have chosen to ignore the plight of workers and their clients. We speak for our members, but we also speak for those who aren’t being heard.

We need strong, effective voices to ensure that our issues and concerns are heard not just during federal, provincial and municipal elections, but also afterwards with whoever is in power, and with employers and not just during bargaining.

I will continue to work with you, locals and components, the provincial executive and our staff to improve conditions for our members and their communities.

Commitment to education

Education is a powerful tool. My education includes a degree from UBC. I am taking courses as part of my commitment as a trustee on the Public Service Pension Plan Board. I also contribute to the education process by facilitating training events.

I am continuing work on preserving our workers’ history and stories through the BCGEU Oral History Project. Film is an effective medium for telling stories and I have been the BC Coordinator for the Canadian Labour International Film Festival (CLiFF), the first labour film festival for Canada, since its inception.

The BCGEU Environment Committee, which I chair, is looking at education as a key component of our work on climate change. We will continue to build our resources for our activists.

Connecting with members

I am a fourth generation British Columbian with family and friends across BC so I am keenly aware of the need to hear from all areas of the province.

I have met with members in all areas of our province including Peace River country, Terrace area, Prince Rupert, Prince George area, Williams Lake, Quesnel, Cariboo area, Nelson, Castlegar, Cranbrook, Kootenays, Kelowna area, Kamloops area, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island.

I have heard your concerns and ideas, and will continue to seek out new ways and technologies to connect with members so we can increase participation in the union.

Building outreach opportunities

Our call for social justice is shared by many community groups. We can be more effective when we work together. That’s why I have initiated outreach opportunities.

Whether through the work of the BCGEU Equity and Human Rights Committee, which I chair, or through my work with cultural and academic groups, we will continue our outreach to organizations supporting Aboriginal workers, workers with disabilities, workers of colour, and lesbian, gay, transgendered and bisexual workers. I have also taken the lead to form the Asian Canadian Labour Alliance in BC.

We need to continue our relationship building with community and this is another important connection to our membership which will be even more diverse in the future.

We are the union

Our union’s strength depends upon the contributions of our new and experienced activists. We share a desire to take up the cause and answer the call to organize and fight for workers’ rights and a just society.

We have much to be proud of and there are also areas to improve. I see the possibilities and am eager to continue the work we’ve begun. Just like the people chanting in Wisconsin, I know we can accomplish much more when we work together. We are the union and we are strong.

Re-elect Lorene Oikawa, your voice for VP. voicevp@loreneoikawa.ca

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