The national secretary-treasurer of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Claude Généreux, will be in Haiti from March 15­ to 22, 2011 to oversee the start of work on a new headquarters building for Haitian unions affiliated with the Confédération des travailleurs et des travailleuses des secteurs public et privé (CTSP), whose construction is funded and supported by several Canadian labour organizations, including CUPE.

Mr. Généreux will attend the meeting of all the professionals participating in the construction of the project and will be actively involved in training sessions offered to the 12 Haitian unions affiliated to CTSP in Port-au-Prince. Mr. Généreux will also be present during the Haitian presidency election on Sunday, March 20.

"Haitian workers and unions are now hands on, contributing to the reconstruction of their country, all under extremely difficult conditions," said Généreux. "This contribution from the Canadian unions will support the important efforts being undertaken by Haitian unions. It will have a direct impact in the field and provide much needed infrastructure. It's our way of supporting democracy and civil society in Haiti."

BF/ HaitiLibre