June 20, 2009 is an historic day for all COPE
members across Canada. It marks the fifth anniversary of formation
of our National union.
Five years ago, it is with the determination and solidarity of our
Canadian members that the collective decision was made to separate
from the International to form our own fully financially and
politically autonomous Canadian union.
I will never forget when on June 20, 2004 the
founding members of our National union presented our letter of
notification to the President of the OPEIU, Michael Goodwin, and
advised him that members in Canada had chosen as of this date to
form our own autonomous Canadian union.
The sense of pride we all felt at that moment is still present to
this day. In spite of the intimidation and threats and the legal
disputes, we all came together in a true spirit of unity and
solidarity to form our own autonomous Canadian union.
Through determination and solidarity have we overcome all obstacles
and achieved the full recognition of our National union.
Today, as we begin to prepare for our Third Triennial Convention we
have to take pride in what we have accomplished in such a short
period of time. It is time to pause for a moment both to look back
at what we have accomplished and to look forward to what is still
to come as we continue to build and grow our National Union.
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