In an unusual move, Canada’s newest and largest private sector union would go beyond organizing workplaces and begin recruiting students, seniors, the unemployed and anyone who shares its social and economic goals, the founding partners say.
The move to create Canada’s largest private sector union took another major step forward Monday as the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers voted over 90 per cent in favour of joining forces with the Canadian Auto Workers.
Nearly 1,500 delegates to a CEP convention in Quebec City endorsed the merger, paving the way for creation of a new super-union with the financial resources and political clout to tackle the challenges facing the labour movement.
“Today we witnessed history being made. This isn’t just a step forward for the labour movement. It’s a step forward for progressive people in this country,” said Dave Coles, national president of the CEP. “It sends a very clear message, we believe, to the Conservatives and any other political group that thinks that they can attack workers.”
The new union, which would represent 320,000 workers across some 20 industries, aims to aggressively expand its membership, financial resources and political clout. It will also seek mergers with additional unions.
While it still doesn’t have a name or a leadership structure, it does have a vision — to recruit as many people from as many walks of life as possible, including seniors, students and the unemployed.
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