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Toronto, July 11, 2007 - More than 2,500 members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), North America’s largest communications and media union, will gather in Toronto next week for their 69th Annual Convention. The event will be held July 16-17, 2007 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC).
CWA represents over 700,000 men and women, including 8,000 in Canada, working in both the private and public sectors. Known as “The Union for the Information Age”, CWA’s membership includes over half a million workers who are building the Information Highway.
These labour union leaders will assemble in Toronto to debate a variety of national policy and workplace-related labour issues, including universal health care and funding for medical research using embryonic stem cells, among others. Among the featured speakers will be Toronto Mayor David Miller, Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, and Leo Gerard, President of the United Steelworkers of America.
“We're happy to be returning to Toronto for the first time in several years. Our delegates from the United States can draw inspiration from the fact that in Canada, stronger workers' organizing rights and bargaining rights have meant a stronger labour movement and such progressive policies as universal health care,” said CWA President Larry Cohen.
This major convention is expected to produce significant revenue for Toronto’s hotels, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues. The MTCC estimates it will have an overall economic impact of over $4 million in direct spending.
“We are thrilled to be hosting this large group of labour leaders at the MTCC,” added Barry Smith, the MTCC’s CEO. “The modern labour movement has done a great deal to improve working conditions for millions of workers everywhere and over many generations,” he said.
About CWA
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., CWA includes some 1,200 chartered local unions across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Members live in approximately 10,000 communities, making CWA one of the most geographically diverse unions.
CWA members are employed in telecommunications, broadcasting, cable TV, journalism, publishing, electronics and general manufacturing, as well as airlines, government service, health care, education and other fields. CWA staff members working out of 50 field offices assist local unions with contract negotiations, officer and steward training, organizing, legislative and community programs and day-to-day member representation. CWA is affiliated with the AFL-CIO, the Canadian Labour Congress, and the worldwide Union Network International. For more information, please visit CWA’s website at www.cwa-union.org.
About the MTCC
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre is Canada’s #1 convention and trade show facility and one of the finest in North America. With more than 2 million square feet of state-of-the-art space, it is considered a world-class, tier-one facility. Since its opening in 1984, the MTCC has hosted approximately 12,000 events, entertained nearly 40 million guests and has had a multi-billion dollar direct and indirect economic impact on the City and Province. For further information about the MTCC please visit www.mtccc.com.
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