Unifor celebrates first year with Canadian Council meeting

Meeting to focus on organization, upcoming federal election

Delegates and staff will reflect on Unifor’s first year and plan for its future when the union holds its first Canadian Council meeting in Vancouver from September 12-15.

The union — born from the merger between the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada— is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its 2013 Labour Day weekend formation.

“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,” said Unifor national president Jerry Dias. “Canadian Council will be where we talk about doing that.”

The meeting will begin with a unity team caucus meeting on the evening of Sept. 12, with a welcome from BC Federation of Labour president Jim Sinclair the following day. Dias’ address to the council will wrap things up on Sept. 15.

Issues facing Canada’s Aboriginal people, the legacy of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, organization, political action, health care and the coming federal election will be areas of focus.

Speakers include Grand Chief Philip Stewart and Michelle Audette of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, actor and activist Danny Glover, federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair, Co-Director of AIDS-Free World Stephen Lewis, author Linda McQuaig and Canadian Labour Congress president Hassan Yussuff.

The meeting will also include elections for Unifor’s National Executive Board, the Western Director and several Industry Councils.

Latest stories