QUÉBEC CITY – Members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada have voted overwhelmingly in favour of joining forces with the Canadian Auto Workers to create Canada’s largest private sector union.
CEP president Dave Coles said that more than 90% of delegates to the national convention in Quebec City endorsed the merger which follows unanimous support by CAW delegates in August.
The new union, as yet unnamed, will represent more than 300,000 workers in every province of the country, in 22 different major economic sectors. Its founding convention will be scheduled for some time in 2013.
"With this new union we are sending out a clear message that labour is ready to do what is necessary to take on governments and employers who would like nothing better than to see us disappear," said Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union National President Dave Coles. "I have no doubt that this bold initiative will bolster the efforts of labour and other progressive movements across the country," he said, noting that "with a critical mass in every province, it will be the largest union of its kind in Canada."
"Our new union will be well-suited to take on today's challenges, particularly around the growing precariousness of employment," said CAW President Ken Lawanda. "Workers across the country will soon have a greater opportunity for union representation in their community and existing members will have more bargaining clout when sitting across from their employer at the negotiating table. We will be stronger, more effective and yield greater influence."
The joint proposal committee, made up of eight local and national leaders from each organization, will soon meet to plan for the upcoming work of the six working groups – Constitutional, Implementation, Staff Relations, Organizing, Communications and Convention Planning.
The proposal committee was led by CAW Secretary-Treasurer Peter Kennedy and CEP Secretary-Treasurer Gaétan Ménard.
