A new kind of union : Unifor and the birth of the modern Canadian union

"In fall 2011, the leaders of two of Canada's largest unions made a bold decision that would change the Canadian labour movement. Unions faced hostile governments, union busting corporations and declining membership. Something drastic needed to be done. This book describes the unique process by which the Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW) and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) decided not just to merge but to create a new union that would be more democratic, more inclusive and more powerful. And how, two years later, a new union with a new name was founded. Unifor has been a source of optimism and inspiration that unions can adapt to changing times and be a relevant voice for workers in twenty-first Century workplaces, and in politics. But to do that, Unifor had to be a new kind of union that would act differently. Here is the inside story."--Page 4 de la couverture "The inside story of how two important Canadian unions decided to create a new kind of union with new ways of fighting for worker's rights In the fall of 2011 the leaders of two of the biggest Canadian unions, Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW) President Ken Lewenza and Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) President Dave Coles, found common ground. The labour movement was in crisis. They faced hostile governments, union busting corporations, and declining membership. Something drastic needed to be done. Fred Wilson was an insider in the process by which the leaders of these two large organizations found a way to create a new kind of union, one that was more democratic, more inclusive, and more powerful. Two years later, a new union with a new name was founded. From its inception, Unifor has been a source of optimism and inspiration that a fairer, more secure future can be won for working people, and that unions can adapt to changing times and remain a relevant voice for workplace and social justice. This book describes how this came about."-- Provided by publisher Cover Advanced Praise for A New Kind of Union Foreword - Jerry Dias Foreword - Peter Kennedy Introduction Chapter 1 - A Moment of Truth Chapter 2 - Towards a New Union: The Proposal Committee Debates Chapter 3 - A Union for Everyone Chapter 4 - Unifor Chapter 5 - Canada’s Union Afterword - Looking Back on A Moment of Truth: An International Perspective Jim Stanford Appendix - The New Union Project Cast Acknowledgements Endnotes Index About the Author Copyright