Merged CEP/CAW union may open membership to unemployed and temporary workers

May 24th, 2012 | Posted in Labour Negotiations | 1 comment ?

The CEP and CAW are continuing their discussions as they attempt to merge unions into one new national union.

The Proposal Committee, made up of 8 representatives from each union, met last week in Toronto and reached a consensus on?on a plan that establishes a ?robust regional presence? and outlines how the new union could be run.

The Proposal Committee has brought forward a number of important ideas on the set up of the new union that would build union density across the country and establish new models for organizing,? said CAW President Ken Lewenza.

CEP President Dave Coles said ?one of the goals of the project is to develop new ways to organize those who haven?t traditionally had a chance to belong to unions. We need to give them a voice,? he said. ?The new union initiative is a reaction the Harper?s government?s bullying of workers,? added Coles.

Proposals for New Union:

• would have a critical mass in every region of the country, unlike both separate unions now
• local unions would take part in regional councils in B.C., the Prairies, the Atlantic and Ontario. Quebec would also have its own council
• would have three elected national officers ? President, Secretary-Treasurer and Quebec Director, in addition to three elected regional directors from Atlantic Canada, Ontario and Western Canada
• greater outreach to unorganized workers ? a new?category of membership would be created to allow unemployed workers, those in workplaces that are not yet certified, young workers and precarious or temporary workers, to also join the union

Further Proposal Committee meetings are slated for late May and June.

The final report and recommendations of the Proposal Committee will be submitted to the CAW Constitutional Convention in August, 2012 and the CEP Constitutional Convention in October, 2012. Only after the two conventions approve the plan for a new union would steps go ahead to launch the new union.

For more information on the new union project, visit:?http://www.newunionproject.ca/

?

state of the union sotu boehner john boehner demi moore hospitalized james farentino somali pirates