Historic convention to create largest private-sector union gets underway this weekend

TORONTO, Aug. 27, 2013 /CNW/ - The founding convention to create a new union -- Unifor -- uniting more than 300,000 members from two of Canada's largest unions will be held Aug. 31^st  and Sept. 1^st at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

More than 2,500 elected leaders from the Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW) and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) -- from every province and territory and nearly every sector of the economy -- will gather for the two-day event, before leading Toronto's Labour Day Parade under their new banner on Sept. 2

It will be the largest gathering of a single labour union in decades. Unifor has generated considerable interest for its commitment to open the doors of unionism and take a new approach.

Policy and discussion papers will call on the new union to expand organizing efforts into traditionally non-unionized sectors of the economy, build a strong community-based presence through Community Chapters, and advocate at all political levels for issues that affect all working people.

Elections will take place on Saturday, Aug. 31^st at 2 pm, and the new president will make a keynote address at 3:15 pm.

Other highlights of the convention include guest speeches from Canadian pollster and pundit, Allan Gregg, Canadian author and social activist Naomi Klein, actor and comedian Mary Walsh and a performance by Canadian pop singer Lorraine Segato.

Members of the media are welcome to register on level 800 of the Convention Centre to attend any part of the convention.

More information, including a copy of the full agenda, can be found at:    http://www.newunionconvention.ca/webcast-schedule/

The convention will be livestreamed at www.newunionconvention.ca.

SOURCE: Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW)