Canadian energy unions stand in solidarity with American and Mexican counterparts

The fourth tri-national energy meeting took place the last week of January in Los Angeles, California. The CUPE delegation included Charles Fleury, secretary-treasurer of CUPE 1500 Hydro Quebec, Mark Hadder, president of CUPE 998 Manitoba Hydro, Dave Shier from CUPE 1000 Power Workers’ Union, as well as CUPE National research and policy staff.

More than 50 people from more than 20 unions and civil society groups from Mexico, the United States and Canada attended the two-day deliberations. The focus for discussions centred on energy policy in the three countries. Talks included the impact of trade, privatization and energy integration on jobs, health and safety, environment, human rights, right to secure and sustainable energy.

Maria Elena Durazo, vice-president of the AFL-CIO, president of UNITE, and head of the Los Angeles Federation of Labour greeted and inspired participants with her dynamic presentation and leadership in mobilization, focusing on successes in planning for the future and building coalitions even during difficult economic times and growing recession. Her movement stands together to build good, safe and secure jobs that pay living wages for all workers. Political activism has seen more labour-endorsed candidates elected to the State of California than anywhere else in the U.S.

CUPE delegates stood in solidarity with the other unions to support the independent labour movement of Mexico in its fight to stop the ongoing violations of human and labour rights and the freedom of association by the Mexican government.

MEXICO: Days of Action, February 14-19, 2011

The IMF, ICEM, ITF and UNI are now calling on affiliates to take action from February 14 to 19, 2011. Actions to take place in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

* A poster and more information is available on the IMF website

A fifth meeting of the tri-national energy workers’ union network is slated for early in 2012, in Mexico City.