HEU Convention Awards are presented to HEU members nominated by their co-workers for outstanding contributions to their union, communities and various causes.
The Convention Gavel Award
The Good Samaritan Bargaining Committee members (above) were presented the Convention Gavel for their long and difficult fight for a fair contract covering 1,100 members at seven work sites.
With a 98 per cent strike mandate, they were able to pressure the employer for a collective agreement that included no contracting-out language and wage-levelling protections.
Recipients included: committee members – led by HEU bargainer Janine Brooker (now retired) – Laura Lee McNab and Louise Bergeron (Christenson Village); Ashlie Overall and Daljeet Dhillon (Delta View); Julie Heal (Heron Grove); Norm Reifferscheid (Hillside Village); Michelle Goodrich (Pioneer Lodge); Claudia Wolf and Tishaunna Narayan (Victoria Heights), and Suzanne Stanley and Kimberly Cooper (Village by the Station).
The Mary LaPlante Sisterhood Award
The Mary LaPlante Sisterhood Award was presented to care aide Dolie Bulalakaw (right) of the Hopehill Assisted Living Pro Vita site for her lobbying efforts to improve seniors’ care and affordable housing for workers.
The HEU Social Justice Award
The HEU Social Justice Award was presented to Claudia Alejandra Zamorano Gomez (housekeeping supervisor, Royal Columbian Hospital) for her advocacy to protect the rights of migrant workers, and her fight to get permanent residency status for her family on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
The HEU Disability Rights Award
The HEU Disability Rights Award was presented to Royal Columbian rehabilitation assistant Yu-Jen (Kirk) Wang (second from left) for his tireless advocacy for better mental health support for workers.
The Indigenous Reconciliation Award
And care aide Teresa Roe (right) of Langley Memorial Hospital received the Indigenous Reconciliation Award – presented by members of HEU’s Indigenous Peoples Standing Committee. She was recognized for her dedication to advocating for Indigenous representation and reconciliation, raising funds for the Indian Residential School Survivors, promoting Indigenous culture, and demystifying stigmas.