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Ken Lewenza to reportedly step down as head of CAW in Sept.

Canadian Auto Workers President Ken Lewenza will reportedly announce on Thursday that he's stepping down in September. Michael Stuparyk/Toronto Star via Getty Images

TORONTO – Canadian Auto Workers President Ken Lewenza will reportedly announce on Thursday that he’s stepping down in September.

Media reports late Wednesday also said Dave Coles, the president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, will also resign.

The CAW and the CEP voted last year to merge and both unions will hold a news conference in Toronto on Thursday to make an announcement about leadership.

Reports say Lewenza and Coles are expected to endorse senior CAW official Jerry Dias as president of the new combined union, called Unifor.

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In a tweet CEP president Dave Coles  said more information regarding the future union leadership will be made available tomorrow.

Lewenza was elected the national president of the CAW in 2008, replacing Buzz Hargrove, and Coles has been president of the CEP since 2006.

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The new union will represent more than 300,000 workers across roughly 20 sectors of the economy, primarily in manufacturing, communications and transportation.

Unifor will also represent some public sector employees in the health, education and transit sectors.

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