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CEP president stepping down from new union

The current leaders of the CAW and CEP unions will not be seeking leadership of the new union once their two organizations join forces in September. The new Canadian union being formed by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP)…

The current leaders of the CAW and CEP unions will not be seeking leadership of the new union once their two organizations join forces in September. The new Canadian union being formed by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) and the Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW) will be named Unifor. 

CAW president Ken Lewenza has announced that he will not be seeking the nomination for president at a press conference in Toronto mid-August. Lewenza said that achieving the goals and ambitions of Unifor is a long-term effort and requires a new generation of leadership to carry it through.

Similarly, CEP president Dave Coles will also be retiring with the formation of Unifor.

“I have full confidence in the ‘dream team’ of leadership candidates being put forward to lead Unifor, and revitalize the Canadian labour movement,” said Coles.

Both leaders endorsed CAW assistant to the president Jerry Dias as the nominee for president of Unifor. Dias is joined by a team of 24 other trade unionists, all of whom will be nominated to fill each of the 25 positions on the new union’s National Executive Board.

Michel Ouimet, current CEP executive vice-president for Quebec, is the Unity Team’s nominee for Quebec Director of Unifor. CEP Secretary-Treasurer Gaétan Ménard will assume the role of an additional senior position called Transition Officer, who will oversee the transition and integration of two unions into Unifor.

Also nominated as part of the Unity Team is CEP national representative Scott Doherty as western director.