For immediate release

Close to 700 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) gathered in Ottawa to attend their 23rd National Triennial Convention.

Delegates to convention elected a new National President, Denis Lemelin.

Lemelin has been involved in CUPW for 29 years. In 1980, he was elected as shop steward and joined the local executive in Sherbrooke, Quebec. In 1988, he worked as a coordinator for the union’s Struggle 88 campaign to stop post office closures. From 1989 to 1999, he held the elected position of Regional Education and Organization Officer for the Quebec Region of CUPW. In 1999, he was elected as the union’s Second National Vice President.

Also elected to national office were 1^st Vice President Gayle Bossenberry, Secretary Treasurer George Kuehnbaum, National Grievance Officer Philippe Arbour, 2^nd Vice President Lynn Bue, 3^rd Vice President George Floresco and 4^th Vice President Donald Lafleur.

“CUPW delegates have sent Canada Post and the government a strong message that CUPW will set the agenda,” said National President Denis Lemelin. “It’s not enough to respond to Canada Post and government initiatives. We will educate, organize and mobilize our entire membership to fight for members’ rights and our vision of a truly public post office.

CUPW’s action plan may be found at www.cupw-sttp.org.

CUPW represents 56,000 members in rural, urban and suburban postal operations and private sector bargaining units, from coast to coast to coast.

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