Diane Wood
Interviewed by Patricia Wejr and Karen Coulter
April 10, 2019
Diane Wood spent many years as a union activist starting in Duncan where she organized the School District clerical workers and led her first strike. She then moved to North-east BC where she began her activism in the BCGEU. She was active in Operation Solidarity having personally experienced termination without cause as a result of the government’s draconian Bill 3. Wood was elected as Treasurer of the BCGEU in 1987 and continued in the role until 2005. As well as being a tireless champion for women in the labour movement she was instrumental in the development of union international solidarity work. Following retirement from the BCGEU, she continued her activism with the BC Federation of Retired Union Members.
Keywords: BCGEU; picketing; women; Dawson Creek; Prince George; coalitions; John Fryer; John Shields; Operation Solidarity; international unionism; Public Services Internation; CLC; NUPGE; BC FORUM