Gig economy, health & safety, state of meat industry focus of National Council meeting

Toronto – November 9, 2019 – UFCW Canada’s national executive board, the National Council, recently met in Toronto to review programs and strategies and build strength for Canada’s leading union.

The UFCW Canada National Council meets twice a year to assess the state of the union, decide on national approaches for empowering members, and develop plans for helping more workers join the union. The council is comprised of UFCW National and Local Union leaders and representatives.

In Toronto, National Council members were updated on UFCW Canada’s workplace rights, women and gender equity, young workers, education, diversity and inclusion, and political action programs. A number of special projects were also reviewed by the council, including the recent launch of UFCW’s bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) campaign, aimed at raising awareness of the dangers posed by cash register receipts containing these toxins.

Council members also explored the impact of China’s five-month ban on Canadian pork and beef imports – lifted earlier this week – on UFCW Canada members working in meat processing facilities and discussed strategies for brining the union advantage to workers in the gig economy.

Campaign development and emerging technology and retail trends were also examined.

The next UFCW Canada National Council meeting will be held in Vancouver in May 2020 and will coincide with the 29th Constitutional Convention of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).