Karen Ranalletta
March 16, 2022President, CUPE BC
Karen Ranalletta was elected President of CUPE BC in May 2021 after serving three terms on the Executive Board as General Vice-President. Karen’s involvement began as a member of CUPE 2950, the local representing clerical, library and theatre workers at the University of British Columbia, where she served as president prior to being elected as a CUPE BC officer. Karen has participated in a number of CUPE BC committees through the course of her involvement, including terms as chair of the Universities and Young Workers Committees.
In addition to her role as CUPE BC President, Karen serves as the Regional Vice President – B.C. on the CUPE National Executive Board (NEB). As a member of the NEB, Karen provides a voice for B.C. members within the National Union’s governance structure, which includes serving on the National Safe Union Spaces Working Group and the CUPE National Post-Secondary Task Force.
Karen represents CUPE BC as an Officer (Vice-President) of the BC Federation of Labour, and chairs the Federation’s Health and Safety Committee. She also sits on the Board of Directors for the BC Labour Heritage Centre, an organization dedicated to preserving and championing working people’s history in British Columbia.
Karen is a strong advocate for public libraries, reading and literacy, and outside of her roles in the labour movement, donates her time to support the arts and theatre community in Vancouver.