Union Leaders Vote Early to Get Out the Vote and Promote Change

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 7, 2015) - Union leaders representing nearly 300,000 federal government workers are voting today in the country's 42^nd federal election campaign. In a joint statement, the leaders announced they have chosen to vote early in an effort to draw attention to the importance of the upcoming election on October 19 and to encourage their members and other Canadians to vote for change.

"We believe the overwhelming majority of our members and indeed all Canadians want change," says the statement. "The best way to ensure that change is to vote for it."

"We are voting today because, like our members, we are eager to see this change. We want to remind our members and all Canadians that they can vote by special ballot at any time as well as at advance polls on October 9 to 12 and, of course, on October 19^th."

"All Canadians have paid the price for this government's failure. The public service has been diminished and demoralized for far too long. This election is an opportunity to change that."

Leaders of the following unions voted by "special ballot" today at the Elections Canada offices at 835 Carling Avenue in Ottawa:

• Canadian Association of Professional Employees
• Canadian Federal Pilots Association
• Canadian Merchant Service Guild
• Federal Government Dockyard Trades and Labour Council (East)
• Federal Government Dockyard Trades and Labour Council (West)
• Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers
• Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
• Public Service Alliance of Canada
• Research Council Employees' Association
• Unifor, Local 2182
• Union of Canadian Correctional Officers - CSN