Dates set for election of top jobs
at CWA Canada, Newspaper Guild
Nominations period for Canadian
Director, Deputy
runs to end of March
Members of CWA Canada can play a
critical role over the next seven weeks in shaping
the future of their national union as well as that
of The Newspaper Guild (TNG).
The nomination period opens Monday
for the elected posts of Director (a full-time, salaried
position) and Deputy Director of CWA Canada, and runs
until March 31. That will be followed by a campaign
period of April 1 to 22.
The election for either or both of those positions,
if needed, would coincide with TNG-CWA elections, in
which there are two contenders for CWA Canada East
Vice-President as well as six candidates for the top
three TNG leadership positions.
CWA Canada's East and West VPs sit on the TNG-CWA
executive council. Scott Edmonds, the Western VP, was
unchallenged in his role.
All CWA Canada members are eligible to vote in the
TNG-CWA election, but only those members who work east
of the Manitoba-Ontario border can vote for Canada
East VP.
Each of CWA Canada's 27 Locals will arrange for their
members to cast ballots during the voting period, April
23-29.
Debbie Cole, chair of CWA Canada's Standing Election
Committee, has notified the Locals that any nominations
received after March 31 will not be considered.
The nomination form (download
PDF) must contain the
names and signatures of the nominee and two seconders.
Once completed, the form is to be mailed to: Debbie
Cole, Standing Election Committee Chair, 1050 Baxter
Rd. Unit 7-B, Ottawa ON K2C 3P1.
The eight candidates for TNG council
positions were officially nominated at the sector conference
in Rhode Island last week. Darren Pittman, president
of the Halifax Typographical Union, will vie with Barbara
Saxberg, National Director of Education for the Canadian
Media Guild, for the job of Canada East VP.
Two teams are seeking the top positions at The Newspaper
Guild:
On the ticket with TNG President Linda Foley is Lois
Kirkup, president of the Ottawa Newspaper Guild and
Canada East VP, who is seeking the international chair
position, and Scott Stephens, of Cleveland, who wants
to be secretary-treasurer. (The international chair
presides over meetings of the TNG-CWA Executive Council.)
Secretary-treasurer Bernie Lunzer is challenging Foley
for the presidency. His slate includes Carol Rothman,
the incumbent international chair who is running for
secretary-treasurer; and Connie Knox, of Baltimore,
who is seeking the international chair.