CUPE Local 15

nd affiliated with the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada in the same year. Corrin was the first President. The Association joined with the Policemen's Union, the Vancouver Firefighters, and the Outside Workers to form the Civic Federation. By 1920 the Federation became the major bargaining agent for the municipal workers. By 1927 the Federation had an agreement with the City for its first Pension Plan, later known as the Provincial Superannuation Plan for all provincial government employees in1928. During the Great Depression the Association came to an agreement with the Council that all employees would work every other week, with their wages cut back accordingly, in order to keep the workers off the welfare rolls. Although women had been asked to become members they refused, preferring to form their own Women's Auxiliary. It was not until 1944 when one woman, Minnie Lazarus, talked the women into joining the Association. Sister Lazarus became the only women executive member from that year until her retirement 23 years later. The Association became the Vancouver Municipal and Regional Employees' Union (VMREU) in 1970. The membership was adamant that it wanted to remain independent but agreed the Association must be ready to expand in other areas that needed organizing.