History

In 1984, after many years of being part of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker Union (IBEW Local 1030), it was decided by the membership that a new independent union was needed. The Atlantic Communication & Technical Workers Union (AC&TWU) was formed and then certified on December 13, 1984, giving the membership a Nova Scotia independently operated union.

The AC&TWU remained in existence for sixteen years, weathering a strike in 1996 and again in 2004. In 2001, following the merger of the 4 Atlantic Telco Companies by Bell Aliant, CATU (Council of Atlantic Telecom Unions) was certified as the bargaining agent for all four provinces. Following the strike in 2004, the AC&TWU was dissolved and merged with Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP). CEP Local 2289 was formed in February, 2005.

In September of 2013 there was once again a merger of two unions. This time CEP joined forces with the Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW) to form Unifor, representing over 300,000 members nationwide.

Unifor Local 2289 has a membership of about 800 members across all of Nova Scotia.