Confederation of Canadian Unions

Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU)

Full name	Confederation of Canadian Unions Confederation des syndicats canadiens
Founded	1969
Members	7,500
Country	Canada
Key people	Joanie Cameron Pritchett, president
Office location	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Website	www.ccu-csc.ca

The Confederation of Canadian Unions, or CCU (in French "le Confederation des syndicats canadiens" or CSC) is a national trade union center, a central labour body in Canada.

Formation

The CCU was founded in 1969 by labour organizers Madeleine Parent and Kent Rowley to establish a democratic, independent Canadian labour movement free of the influence of American-based international unions. It has been a leader in the struggle for workers' rights and social justice for all Canadians and was the first labour federation in Canada to call for equal pay for work of equal value.^{[citation needed]} The CCU supports, participates and works co-operatively with a variety of social activist groups, including the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Maquila Solidarity Network, Council of Canadians, the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group (ICLMG), various health coalitions, Make Poverty History, and Gathering Place. It writes submissions and lobbies all levels of government on issues such as health care, education, pay equity, social services, forestry, fair trade, and labour standards for workers.

The CCU and its affiliates are active in the struggle for a new world based on the ideals equality, democracy, environmental sustainability and solidarity.

Objectives

1. Establish a just standard of income, working hours and conditions for all who work for a living;
2. Protect its members from illegal and unjust treatment;
3. Obtain improved legislation and just application of legislation in the interests of all workers;
4. Promote the study, defense, and just application of legislation in the interests of all workers;
5. Promote and develop awareness of the dangers of environmental pollution and to educate members about the need to control and prevent harm to our environment;
6. Promote the merger or affiliation of affiliated unions with related interest and principles;
7. Aid workers in their efforts to form independent, Canadian unions, and if necessary or requested, to regulate relations between employees and employers, including but not limited to the right to bargain collectively on their behalf and to act as a bargaining agent, after full review and concurrence of the Executive Board;
8. Aid in organizing the unorganized.

Affiliated unions

• Nova Scotia Union of Public and Private Employees
• Canadian Overseas Telecommunications Union
• York University Staff Association
• Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada

External links

• Confederation of Canadian Unions

Organized labour portal