I am a union person and one of my unions these days is CEP. I have gone to several conferences, representing my local, over the last year where CEP and CAW members have gathered to talk about the merger and what we want the new Union to look like. I have to say that some of the ideas were forward looking and I was quite impressed.
Now, I am an old lefty so it takes a lot to impress me these days, but the idea of asscoaite membership is something I have brought up to Federation and CLC members more than once. The talk at the conferences was that associate members could be provided things like a death benefit and a reduced cost for health benefits as the money would be pooled from thier dues for this. Other talk at the conferences were to provide advocacy for WCB, Employment standards and providing discourse on social and union issues - solidarity across union/nonunion lines. Not unlike the old Unemployed Action Centres.The idea hasnt been fully flushed out, even it it is already in the constitution. It is a new area and some of it will be developed as it unfolds.
This is not necvesarily an unprecedented move. CAW already has retiree locals and this is sort of based on that model. If the membership is serious about providing solidarity to all then this is a huge step forward.
I agree with others though - the name sucks