Kirkup
declares
candidacy for
international chair
position
Citing the need for strong leadership at a crucial
time in the media industry, Lois Kirkup is running
for international chair of The Newspaper Guild-CWA
in spring elections.
Currently serving as CWA Canada Eastern Vice-President
on the TNG-CWA Executive Board, Kirkup will be on a
ticket with TNG-CWA President Linda Foley and Scott
Stephens, the Region 3 vice-president who is seeking
the secretary-treasurer position. The international
chair presides over meetings of the TNG-CWA Executive
Board.
Connie Knox
Secretary-treasurer Bernie Lunzer is challenging Foley
for the presidency. Included on his ticket is Carol
Rothman, the incumbent international chair who is vying
for the secretary-treasurer job; and Connie Knox, the
Region 2 vice-president who is seeking the international
chair. (Tim Schick, an administrative officer of the
Local in Providence, Rhode Island, has withdrawn his
candidacy for secretary-treasurer.)
Kirkup, an online editor at The
Ottawa Citizen and
president of the Ottawa Newspaper Guild, served on
the CWA Canada executive as a member-at-large and then
secretary before being elected Eastern VP.
She says technological change
and a challenging economy mean "the next few
years are going to be the most difficult we have
seen in a long time and the members need strong leadership
to make sure we survive."
The Guild, says Kirkup, must
lead the way. "We
need to guide our members through these changes. We
have to make sure our members understand the importance
of embracing some of these changes and move forward.
It is the Guild's job to make sure none of our members
is left behind."
“Scott Stephens and I are thrilled that Lois
Kirkup has decided to run for TNG-CWA chairperson,” Foley
told the Guild Reporter. “She brings a fresh
perspective on today’s media to our team. With
Lois as chairperson, the Guild’s leadership will
reflect the truly bi-national composition of our union.”
Elections will follow the TNG Sector Conference to
be held in Rhode Island in February.
Kirkup
declares