Mark Hancock is a Canadian trade union activist who is currently the National President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). He was elected as the sixth National President of CUPE in 2015.[1] CUPE is the largest trade union in Canada, with 750,000 members.[2]
Mark Hancock | |
|---|---|
 Hancock at the CUPE National Convention in 2015 | |
| 6th National President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees | |
| Assumed office November 6, 2015 | |
| Secretary-Treasurer | Charles Fleury |
| Preceded by | Paul Moist |
| President of CUPE British Columbia | |
| In office April 2013 – 2015 | |
| Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE British Columbia | |
| In office May 2005 – 2013 | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | New Democratic Party |
Career
editHancock got his start with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in 1984[3] and served as president of CUPE Local 498, representing employees of the City of Port Coquitlam,[1] a suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia for 15 years. Hancock was elected president of his local in 1993 and was subsequently elected to the executive board of CUPE British Columbia, where he served for 12 years, initially as a General Vice-President,[4] then as Secretary-Treasurer starting in 2005 and [4] finally as President of CUPE BC beginning in 2013. Simultaneously, he served on CUPE's National Executive Board beginning in 2005 as Regional Vice-President for British Columbia.
On November 4, 2015, Hancock was elected as the sixth National President of CUPE National after defeating the President of CUPE Ontario Fred Hahn at the biennial CUPE National Convention.[5] Hancock has since been re-elected four times as National President, most recently in 2023 at CUPE's National Convention in Quebec City.[6]
In November 2022, 55,000 school board workers in Ontario represented by CUPE defied the Ford government's Bill 28, a law that used the Notwithstanding Clause to impose a contract and make their planned strike illegal. Despite the potential for financial penalties of up to $220.5-million per day, CUPE vowed to continue its walkout for "as long as it takes".[7] Under Hancock's leadership, CUPE mobilized public and private sector unions from across Canada, and plans for a general strike were underway. The move paid off, as the Ford government repealed Bill 28 just days later - the fastest repeal of a government bill in Canadian history. "The [Ford] government blinked," said Hancock, calling it a major win for education workers and the broader labour movement in Canada. [8][9]
Hancock is an adamant supporter of Canada's New Democratic Party saying he is "100-per-cent committed" to supporting the federal NDP.[1] He lives in Coquitlam, British Columbia.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c Culbert, Lori (November 5, 2015). "B.C.'s CUPE leader elected as union's national president". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
- ^ "Canadian Union of Public Employees - About Us". Canadian Union of Public Employees.
- ^ "Mark Hancock, National President". Canadian Union of Public Employees. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
- ^ a b "Hancock to seek CUPE National Presidency". CUPE British Columbia. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
- ^ Warren, Janice (November 4, 2015). "Hancock named national CUPE president". Tri-City News. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
- ^ https://cupe.ca/mark-hancock-and-candace-rennick-re-elected-lead-cupe
- ^ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-how-will-cupe-afford-to-pay-fines/
- ^ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-doug-ford-announcement-cupe/
- ^ https://globalnews.ca/news/9268778/behind-the-scenes-ontario-education-walkout/
- ^ Janis Warren (November 4, 2015). "Hancock named national CUPE president," TriCity News.