Founding convention for CEP-CAW merger set for Labour Day weekend

New name and logo to be unveiled in Labour Day parades

A proposal committee established by the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) unions has agreed to organize a founding convention in Toronto on Labour Day weekend to reveal details about the new union.

Earlier in the fall, members from both unions voted almost unanimously in favour of merging the two unions, creating what will be the largest private-sector union in Canada. The CAW voted at its convention in Toronto in August and the CEP did the same in October in Quebec City.

Set to begin Friday, Aug. 30 and conclude Sunday, Sept. 1, the founding convention will focus on various details of the new union made up of members and representatives from both the CEP and CAW. The union’s constitution will be approved, the name and logo will be finalized and the first leaders will be elected — including three national officers, three regional directors and the first members of the national executive board.

Following the convention, representatives from the new union will unveil a banner displaying the new logo in the Labour Day parades in various Canadian communities.

“Launching the new union on Labour Day weekend is fitting and symbolic,” CAW secretary-treasurer Peter Kennedy said in a press release. “Marching behind our new banner will be an electrifying beginning for an organization that will inject new energy and hope into the labour movement.”

The proposal committee is currently working on creating six working groups: communications, constitution, implementation, organizing, staff relations and convention planning. They will each hold meetings in late 2012. The proposal committee will meet again in March 2013 to review their progress.

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