Darryl Walker elected president of 69,000-member BCGEU

Replacing retiring president George Heyman

Vancouver (9 June 2008) - Darryl Walker is the new president of the 69,000-member B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE).

Elected at the union's weekend convention in Vancouver, Walker is an activity worker from the B.C. Forensic Psychiatric Hospital. He won on the second ballot in the five-candidate contest to take over the union's top post from retiring leader George Heyman.

Walker has served as BCGEU vice-president since 1999. He has a long history of activism in the union, the labour movement and the broader community. He also chairs the union's environment committee and has a keen interest in global warming issues and workplace health and safety. He is also a youth soccer coach in South Surrey where he lives.

"I'm truly honoured that delegates have chosen me to be their leader for the next three years," said Walker. He told delegates his priorities for the union include upcoming elections at the municipal and provincial levels, plus extensive contract bargaining in 2010, when most BCGEU members will be negotiating new collective agreements.

Delegates also re-elected Judi Filion from Okanagan College in Kelowna as the union's treasurer. First elected in 2005, she supervises BCGEU's $42-million annual budget.

Delegates also elected four vice-presidents. Re-elected are incumbents Mike Clarke of Maple Ridge, Colleen Jones of Trail and Lorene Oikawa of Surrey. Newly elected as a vice-president is activist Anthony Dodds of Kelowna.

In all, a record 17 candidates ran for the six top elected positions in the union. "It's a sign that BCGEU is a vibrant union," says Walker.

BCGEU members work in the direct provincial public service, the broader public sector in health care, community social services and post-secondary education and the private sector. Ferry workers, brewery employees and staff at WorkSafeBC are also affiliated to the union. NUPGE