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Alan Tate, UNI Campaign Director said, “The importance of the creation of this new union should not be underestimated. It will be a strident and progressive force in Canada and across the globe. This is union which is fully committed to organising and bringing tens of thousands of new workers into the labour movement.”



CEP union leaders and members voted to form the new union with CAW during their convention in Quebec. The yet to be named union will represent more than 300,000 workers in every province in the country across 22 economic sectors.



“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 Lewenza. “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.”



CEP and CAW are two of the largest unions ever to come together.



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.



A date has not yet been set for the founding convention which will be scheduled for 2013.



For more information visit: www.newunionproject.ca in English and www.projetnouveausyndicat.ca in French