It has been a busy year, if you are like me, you are looking forward to a calm and uneventful fall.  I have some happy news to share, after a period of transition I am pleased to announce several new hires.

After a long search, we have a new Western Staff Rep to serve Manitoba to B.C. and the North.

Chris MacDonald was the Ontario Director for the Canadian Labour Congress, a former CEP staff rep, and former president of a huge local. He has years of experience, much of it in senior, leadership roles.

Chris has lead bargaining, negotiated contracts for a 15,000 member union (Bell), managed multiple collective agreements, designed and taught education courses, and worked on national political strategy. He has a deep knowledge  of unions and politics, and understands the problems and challenges media workers face. Chris starts next month and will relocate west in the spring.

I’d also like to welcome Jeanne d’Arc Umurungi, our bilingual Communications Director (replacing Karen Wirsig, who has moved to an Organizing/Mobilizing Rep position); and  Dominique Longval our new bilingual Office coordinator/receptionist.

Thank you for your patience, and we hope you will be as impressed with our new staff as we are.

Our goal continues to be to serve you well, and help in any way we can. And remember, the office has bilingual staff, so you can be served in the language of your choice.

My cell is always on, (well you can email me anytime).

Carmel Smyth,
National President, CMG