Delegates at a convention of Canada’s largest union federation the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) are facing an important choice Thursday morning (May 8). Whether to choose to support Ken Georgetti, CLC president for last the 15 years, or Hassan Yussuff, the CLC’s Secretary Treasurer who says it’s time for change.
Almost 4,000 delegates, representing more than three million unionized workers in the public and private sector, are meeting in Montreal for the 27th constitutional convention of the CLC.
They’re working out policies on such issues as privatization in the public sector, how to protect young workers from two-tier pay scales, how to get local labour councils more representation in the larger federal structure, and how to deal with the conservative policies of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Originally there were three candidates for the presidency: Ken Georgetti as incumbent, Hassan Husseini an experienced labour organizer, and Hassan Yussuff, the Secretary Treasurer. On the day before the vote, during a leader’s debate, Husseini withdrew from the race, and supported Yussuff.
RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda has a report.
ListenMore information:
Official CLC convention website – convention2014.canadianlabour.ca
Ken Georgetti website – www.wintogether.ca
Hassan Husseini website – takebackclc.ca
Hassan Yussuff website – hassanyussuff.ca
UPDATE May 8, 2014: In a close vote, challenger Hassan Yussuff has won the presidency of the Canadian Labour Congress, it was announced Thursday afternoon at the CLC convention.
There was only a 40 vote difference between Yussuff with 2,318 votes and Ken Georgetti’s total of 2,278 (29 votes were spoiled).
More details to come.
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