QUEBEC CITY – Delegates from the Canadian Auto Workers and Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada will vote next week on a resolution that could create the country's largest private sector union.
More than 1,500 delegates and observers are expected to gather in Quebec City, Oct. 14-17 for the national convention of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada.
CEP, one of Canada's largest unions, will confront challenges that workers face in this weakened economy, but also the challenges that labour unions in general face. Among the resolutions they will debate is one calling for CEP to form a new union with the CAW.
The vote on the new union is the second of two. CAW delegates voted unanimously in favour of the new union proposal at its Aug. 22 convention in Toronto. CEP delegates will vote on the proposal Monday, Oct. 15.
Other convention highlights include speeches from:
- Dave Coles, CEP President, Sunday, Oct. 14th, 10 am
- Jyrki Raina, General Secretary, IndustriALL Global Union, Monday, Oct. 15th, 2:10 pm
- Thomas Mulcair, Leader of the Official Opposition, Tuesday, Oct. 16th, 9:15 am
- Three representatives from the Quebec students' movement (Mouvement carré rouge, Wednesday, Oct. 17th, 1:30 pm
CEP is the largest union in several key sectors of the Canadian economy, including , including forestry, energy, telecommunications and media. The union's 120,000 members work at a wide variety of jobs in hundreds of different workplaces across the country.
