Unifor turns 1 this Labour Day and Preparing for First Canadian Council in Vancouver
August 31, 2014
This Labour Day, Unifor will celebrate its first birthday.
Unifor was formed during the Labour Day long-weekend of 2013 in Toronto, when the National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada – commonly known as the CAW – joined forces in a merger with another proud Canadian Union, the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada – commonly known as the CEP.
With creation of Canada’s newest Union and the goodbyes to the CAW and CEP, we also said goodbye to the end of CAW National Council 4000, now referred to as Unifor National Council 4000, which will also celebrate its first birthday under the Unifor banner along with hundreds of other Unifor Local Unions across Canada.
Unifor is Canada’s largest private sector union with more than 305,000 members from coast to coast to coast, representing workers in some 20 economic sectors, including transportation, aerospace, manufacturing and communications and public sector employees in the health, education and transit sectors.
As Unifor turns one this September, the month will also see the Union hold its first Canadian Council meeting in Vancouver from September 12 to 15, where delegates and staff will reflect on the Union’s first year, and plan for the future.
“Unifor has had an incredible first year. We have begun to change the debate in this country, but there is still much more work to do. Canadian Council will be where we talk about doing that,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias said.
The Unifor Canadian Council will begin with a Unity Team Caucus meeting on the evening of September 12, followed the next morning by a welcome from BC Federal of Labour President Jim Sinclair. President Jerry Dias will address the council Monday morning.
Issues facing Canada’s Aboriginal peoples will be the focus of much of the morning of September 13, with address from Grand Chief Philip Stewart and Michelle Audette of the Native Women’s Association of Canada. Audette will discuss what needs to be done the address murdered and missing Aboriginal women.
Actor and activist Danny Glover will address council the morning of September 14, discussing the legacy of the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
Also speaking will be federal NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, Co-Director of AIDS-Free World Stephen Lewis, author Linda McQuaig and Canadian Labour Congress President Hassan Yussuff.
There will also be reports and updates from Secretary-Treasurer Peter Kennedy and Quebec Director Michel Ouimet, as well as discussions about organizing, political action, the coming federal election, health care, and more. Elections will be held for the National Executive Board, the Western Director and several Industry Councils.
Delegates from Unifor’s Rail sector, including Council 4000, will meet to discuss the establishment of a new Unifor Industry Council for Rail. Bylaws will be discussed, debated and passed and a new Industry Council Executive Team will be nominated and elected.
Unifor was formed during the Labour Day long-weekend of 2013 in Toronto, when the National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada – commonly known as the CAW – joined forces in a merger with another proud Canadian Union, the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada – commonly known as the CEP.
With creation of Canada’s newest Union and the goodbyes to the CAW and CEP, we also said goodbye to the end of CAW National Council 4000, now referred to as Unifor National Council 4000, which will also celebrate its first birthday under the Unifor banner along with hundreds of other Unifor Local Unions across Canada.
Unifor is Canada’s largest private sector union with more than 305,000 members from coast to coast to coast, representing workers in some 20 economic sectors, including transportation, aerospace, manufacturing and communications and public sector employees in the health, education and transit sectors.
As Unifor turns one this September, the month will also see the Union hold its first Canadian Council meeting in Vancouver from September 12 to 15, where delegates and staff will reflect on the Union’s first year, and plan for the future.
“Unifor has had an incredible first year. We have begun to change the debate in this country, but there is still much more work to do. Canadian Council will be where we talk about doing that,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias said.
The Unifor Canadian Council will begin with a Unity Team Caucus meeting on the evening of September 12, followed the next morning by a welcome from BC Federal of Labour President Jim Sinclair. President Jerry Dias will address the council Monday morning.
Issues facing Canada’s Aboriginal peoples will be the focus of much of the morning of September 13, with address from Grand Chief Philip Stewart and Michelle Audette of the Native Women’s Association of Canada. Audette will discuss what needs to be done the address murdered and missing Aboriginal women.
Actor and activist Danny Glover will address council the morning of September 14, discussing the legacy of the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
Also speaking will be federal NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, Co-Director of AIDS-Free World Stephen Lewis, author Linda McQuaig and Canadian Labour Congress President Hassan Yussuff.
There will also be reports and updates from Secretary-Treasurer Peter Kennedy and Quebec Director Michel Ouimet, as well as discussions about organizing, political action, the coming federal election, health care, and more. Elections will be held for the National Executive Board, the Western Director and several Industry Councils.
Delegates from Unifor’s Rail sector, including Council 4000, will meet to discuss the establishment of a new Unifor Industry Council for Rail. Bylaws will be discussed, debated and passed and a new Industry Council Executive Team will be nominated and elected.
