Nomination period opens
for CWA Canada Director, Deputy positions
Officers, at-large members elected in weekend vote
Nominations open today for the positions of Director and Deputy Director of CWA Canada. If a contest develops, it would for the first time require voting by the union’s entire membership.
The makeup of the rest of the CWA Canada executive was altered in the wake of an election on Sunday, the third and final day of the National Representative Council (NRC) meeting held in Montreal. New to the executive are one officer and three at-large members.
The positions of Director and Deputy Director, currently held by Arnold Amber and Martin O’Hanlon respectively, were previously determined by elections at the NRC. Changes to the union’s bylaws so they would conform to the constitution that governs the Communications Workers of America require that elections for the two positions be held at the national level. Also, the terms of office have increased to four years from three.
The 21-day nomination period runs from April 21 to May 11. If there are contenders, they would be restricted to campaigning between May 12 and June 2. A three-week voting period immediately follows.
The elections committee would have five days thereafter to count the ballots, although it is expected the final results would be announced on June 27.
NRC delegates approved election rules that require nominations to be announced on the website and by email as they are received and stipulate that no union funds, staff or other resources be used in support of any particular candidate. Voting would be either by mail ballot (sent directly to members and returned) or at the Local level with ballots sent to the committee for counting.
In the election held Sunday, Mona Leroux, president of the Montreal Newspaper Guild, won out over challenger Nicole Gauthier of the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) to retain her position as Secretary on the CWA Canada executive.
Lois Kirkup, president of the Ottawa Newspaper Guild, was acclaimed as Treasurer, replacing fellow ONG member Gord Holder, who had held the office since 1998.
Ing Wong-Ward, a CMG member, was re-elected by acclamation to the At-Large Human Rights/Equity position on the executive.
Acclaimed as At-Large members and returned to the executive for three-year terms were Lise Lareau, CMG vice-president, and Luis Rufo, secretary-treasurer of the Media & Communications Workers of Alberta. Also acclaimed and joining as At-Large members were David Hawkins of CMG, Chris Carolan, president of the Victoria-Vancouver Island Newspaper Guild, and Steve Llewellyn, president of the Fredericton Typographical Union.
For more information, contact Election Committee member
Gord Holder.
