Canada's Newest Union is Here!
September 1, 2013
Following several months of deliberations and planning, the merger of the CAW and the CEP is now complete! The two unions are now officially one under the brand new union banner, Unifor. Unifor is the largest private sector union in Canada representing more than 300,000 workers in some 20 economic sectors, including transportation, aerospace, manufacturing and communications. Unifor will also represent some public sector employees in the health, education and transit sectors. And with the new union comes a new Council 4000. CAW National Council 4000 is now Unifor National Council 4000 or Unifor Council 4000.
At seven minutes after noon on the last day of August, thousands of delegates voted to approve the formation of Unifor, a union for all Canadians. Prior to the vote on the Unifor Constitution, the members of CAW and CEP had to be admitted into the new union as per the articles of the soon-to-be adopted Unifor Constitution. Delegates, officers, staff and guests signed their founding member application forms as the new union became a legal entity, and received a Founding Member Unifor Card.
Jerry Dias was elected as the first president of Unifor on August 31. Dias began his union roots at the de Havilland Aircraft plant (now Bombardier Aerospace) in 1978, signing up as a CAW Shop Steward shortly after starting work at the plant. Before long, he was Plant Chair, then Local President before becoming a National Representative. Dias was most recently Assistant to the CAW National President.
“I am immensely honoured and humbled to be elected as the founding president of Unifor. I understand the challenge that has been given to me. But I am excited and energized by this responsibility.” “It’s time to start making better choices. It’s time to stop reacting and time to start setting the agenda,” Dias said in a rousing keynote speech to the founding Unifor convention.
All involved in building Unifor were committed to making it into a union addressing the challenges faced by working people today and return hope to our communities, new Unifor Secretary Treasurer Peter Kennedy said, former Secretary Treasurer of the CAW. “The status quo wasn’t good enough,” Kennedy told the founding convention of Unifor. Kennedy said that Unifor was founded on strong principles of equity and reflecting the diversity of Canada and the Unifor membership. “We are here today full of hope and optimism.”
Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and guest to the Unifor Founding Convention, said Unifor comes into being at a critical time in Canada. "This is truly a day of celebration,” Georgetti said as he welcomed Unifor as the newest affiliate of the CLC. “The Canadian Labour Congress is behind you and Unifor. The labour movement faces challenges from companies and governments who want to take away bargaining rights and tie the hands of unions in red tape, but has shown it can work together to make positive change for all Canadians", Georgetti said. "“We’re facing ongoing attacks from the federal conservatives and several right-wing provincial governments.” He stressed the need to engage members with their unions and link their well-being to their unions. “We have to get people thinking about this as “my” union. We need to get them prepared for the attack that is coming,” Georgetti said.
Canadian pollster and pundit Allan Gregg enthralled the delegates at the Unifor Founding Convention with his observations and analysis of the Harper government’s war on reason and working families. He urged the leaders and delegates of Unifor not to allow Harper to pit unions against the interests of Canadians. “After this weekend the eyes of the nation will be on you. And if they like what they see, their hearts and minds will follow,” Gregg told the cheering delegates. Conservatives argue that the middle class can’t prosper unless there is “right to work” legislation – laws that are essentially anti-union. Gregg explained that economies prosper when working people can buy things. He noted that around the world anywhere there are unions, there is a healthy middle class.
And delegates were also honoured to have Naomi Klein address members and those tuning in on the livesteam from across the country. Klein is an award-winning journalist, syndicated columnist and author two international best sellers: The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism and No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies. “The Creation of Unifor, and your promise of reviving social unionism – building not just a big union but a vast and muscular network of social movements – has raised so much hope,” said Klein. Referring to powerful movements like Occupy, the Québec student movement and Idle No More, Klein urged members to continue to support and build these movements.
Unifor was built through an incredible two-year process of grassroots involvement and consultation, where the leadership of both the CAW and CEP asked their respective membership what kind of a new union they wanted, and they were very clear. As new Unifor President Jerry Dias wrote on Unifor's new website, unifor.org, "Members want us to fight for equality and inclusion. They want a union that communicates effectively and listens as well as it speaks.
"Our members are women, men, white, gay, straight, aboriginal, disabled, workers of colour. We will be a union that takes its responsibility to fight racism and discrimination. And that’s just the kind of union we’re building now." Dias says that Unifor will work hand-in-hand with other organizations and other unions, with businesses, with governments and community groups to build good lives and secure jobs for our children. "We will find new ways to organize those who cannot find a voice right now – the unemployed, the non-unionized, young workers who are going from bad job to bad job, the self-employed and anyone else who believes positive change is possible.
"Together, we can do this – we can make changes in your workplace that help you in your life and your community, however you define it", Dias said.
At seven minutes after noon on the last day of August, thousands of delegates voted to approve the formation of Unifor, a union for all Canadians. Prior to the vote on the Unifor Constitution, the members of CAW and CEP had to be admitted into the new union as per the articles of the soon-to-be adopted Unifor Constitution. Delegates, officers, staff and guests signed their founding member application forms as the new union became a legal entity, and received a Founding Member Unifor Card.
Jerry Dias was elected as the first president of Unifor on August 31. Dias began his union roots at the de Havilland Aircraft plant (now Bombardier Aerospace) in 1978, signing up as a CAW Shop Steward shortly after starting work at the plant. Before long, he was Plant Chair, then Local President before becoming a National Representative. Dias was most recently Assistant to the CAW National President.
“I am immensely honoured and humbled to be elected as the founding president of Unifor. I understand the challenge that has been given to me. But I am excited and energized by this responsibility.” “It’s time to start making better choices. It’s time to stop reacting and time to start setting the agenda,” Dias said in a rousing keynote speech to the founding Unifor convention.
All involved in building Unifor were committed to making it into a union addressing the challenges faced by working people today and return hope to our communities, new Unifor Secretary Treasurer Peter Kennedy said, former Secretary Treasurer of the CAW. “The status quo wasn’t good enough,” Kennedy told the founding convention of Unifor. Kennedy said that Unifor was founded on strong principles of equity and reflecting the diversity of Canada and the Unifor membership. “We are here today full of hope and optimism.”
Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and guest to the Unifor Founding Convention, said Unifor comes into being at a critical time in Canada. "This is truly a day of celebration,” Georgetti said as he welcomed Unifor as the newest affiliate of the CLC. “The Canadian Labour Congress is behind you and Unifor. The labour movement faces challenges from companies and governments who want to take away bargaining rights and tie the hands of unions in red tape, but has shown it can work together to make positive change for all Canadians", Georgetti said. "“We’re facing ongoing attacks from the federal conservatives and several right-wing provincial governments.” He stressed the need to engage members with their unions and link their well-being to their unions. “We have to get people thinking about this as “my” union. We need to get them prepared for the attack that is coming,” Georgetti said.
Canadian pollster and pundit Allan Gregg enthralled the delegates at the Unifor Founding Convention with his observations and analysis of the Harper government’s war on reason and working families. He urged the leaders and delegates of Unifor not to allow Harper to pit unions against the interests of Canadians. “After this weekend the eyes of the nation will be on you. And if they like what they see, their hearts and minds will follow,” Gregg told the cheering delegates. Conservatives argue that the middle class can’t prosper unless there is “right to work” legislation – laws that are essentially anti-union. Gregg explained that economies prosper when working people can buy things. He noted that around the world anywhere there are unions, there is a healthy middle class.
And delegates were also honoured to have Naomi Klein address members and those tuning in on the livesteam from across the country. Klein is an award-winning journalist, syndicated columnist and author two international best sellers: The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism and No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies. “The Creation of Unifor, and your promise of reviving social unionism – building not just a big union but a vast and muscular network of social movements – has raised so much hope,” said Klein. Referring to powerful movements like Occupy, the Québec student movement and Idle No More, Klein urged members to continue to support and build these movements.
Unifor was built through an incredible two-year process of grassroots involvement and consultation, where the leadership of both the CAW and CEP asked their respective membership what kind of a new union they wanted, and they were very clear. As new Unifor President Jerry Dias wrote on Unifor's new website, unifor.org, "Members want us to fight for equality and inclusion. They want a union that communicates effectively and listens as well as it speaks.
"Our members are women, men, white, gay, straight, aboriginal, disabled, workers of colour. We will be a union that takes its responsibility to fight racism and discrimination. And that’s just the kind of union we’re building now." Dias says that Unifor will work hand-in-hand with other organizations and other unions, with businesses, with governments and community groups to build good lives and secure jobs for our children. "We will find new ways to organize those who cannot find a voice right now – the unemployed, the non-unionized, young workers who are going from bad job to bad job, the self-employed and anyone else who believes positive change is possible.
"Together, we can do this – we can make changes in your workplace that help you in your life and your community, however you define it", Dias said.
