Unifor Founding Convention opens

Outgoing top executives of the CAW and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers of Canada union looked to the future in their opening addresses to the founding convention of Unifor this morning.

 

“Unifor isn’t just a union, it’s a social movement, it’s a progressive union,” CAW President Ken Lewenza said in his address.

 

 

“Peter and I met with thousands of workers,” CEP Secretary Treasurer Gaétan Ménard said of the 22 months of consultation with members across the country in bringing Unifor together.

 

“What I saw in the eyes of those workers was hope.”

 

CEP President Dave Coles said that hope will extend beyond Unifor to help those living in poverty across Canada.

 

“It is our responsibility in Unifor to remember that when they come for one of us, they come for all of us,” Coles said.

 

CAW Secretary Treasurer Peter Kennedy said all involved were committed to making Unifor into a union addressing the challenges faced by working people today and return hope to our communities meant doing things differently.

 

“The status quo wasn’t good enough,” Kennedy said, adding that Unifor was established on these principles. “We are here today full of hope and optimism.”

 

CAW Quebec director Sylvain Martin called Unifor “the House of Labour” and reflected on the importance of what was happening at the convention, the largest-ever labour meeting in Canada.

 

“We are making a historic act, that is to create a new union, Unifor,” Martin said. “We will be a strong voice for the members we will represent so they have security and dignity in their workplace.

 

CEP Quebec Executive Vice president for Quebec Michel Ouimet said Unifor will be more than a bringing together of two great unions, but will be a new kind of union.

 

“It’s not enough to be bigger, you have to be better,” he said.

 

“We have to make a difference. Unifor will make a difference,” Ouimet said.

 

“With each victory, we will build Unifor.”