[Ottawa] - Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers elected Deborah Bourque National President of the union on April 11, 2002. This is the first time the position of National President has been held by a woman.

This is the second time Bourque has made history at the union. In 1983, Bourque became the first woman to hold national office when she was appointed as a union representative.

‘I am very proud to have been chosen by the membership to lead the union at this time,’ Bourque said this afternoon. ‘We are a union that is moving forward and meeting new challenges every day. We are growing stronger by recognizing our diversity and organizing new workers.’

Lynn Bue was re-elected to the position of First National Vice-president, a position she has held since the 1999 election.

‘This is an exciting time to be part of the labour movement, and an exciting time to be part of this union,’ said Bue. ‘I am very honoured to be continuing to serve the membership as First National Vice-president.

Delegates overwhelmingly adopted an Action Plan, Moving Forward in a Changing World, which outlines the union’s strategies and objectives for the next three years. The Plan identifies the union’s overall goal of increasing our capacity to engage the membership, in our workplaces and in our communities. The union’s first priority will be strengthening and consolidating our steward network. The CUPW remains committed to social unionism and militancy, to resisting the threats to public services posed by globalization and to preserving universal, public postal services.