Big Change Looming In Canada’s Labour Movement

Canada may soon have a new and dominant private sector union as the CAW and CEP continue to talk merger.

Both of these large unions are the products of earlier mergers, but forces are compelling another, and bigger, combination.

They have identified a "moment of truth" brought on by a number of factors. Predictably, "hostility from right wing governments" and "aggressive attacks by global employers" are blamed. But more perceptively, they also identify the continued erosion of union density in the private sector, failure of organizing efforts, generational change, growing negative public opinion, and fragmentation of the labour movement.

Talks began last year and are continuing on a set course. A final proposal is to be completed in July for presentation at annual conventions in August and October. The hope is to have a new union up and running shortly thereafter.