Throughout the coming year of 2008, UFCW Canada Local 500R, our largest local union in Québec, will be celebrating four decades serving its members in the province.
In a message to members, Local 500R President Antonio Filato notes that both he and Secretary-Treasurer Robert Armstrong (pictured) are “proud to have been a part of Local 500R for more than 30 of its 40 years of existence as we both became actively involved in 1974 and 1975 respectively, first as members, then as union stewards, moving on to become union staff representatives, and finally officers.”

The local was established in April 1968 when activists in the retail and food industries voted to merge their independent associations, creating a real union that became a local in the Retail Clerks union.

“Forty years of servicing our members is worth celebrating together,” Brother Filato says.

In an upcoming anniversary publication, 40 years of organizing, servicing, negotiating, dealing with health and safety issues, and defending member’s rights will be remembered.

Information from handwritten minutes, old newspapers and magazines, and first-hand testimonies from those who were actually there will be included. Brother Filato adds that a gathering for all retired Steinberg and Dominion workers is planned for sometime in 2008.