• Français
Find Your Local Union
Subscribe to E-news
 
Login
Scholarships
Contact

UFCW Canada - Union Logo

Canada's Private Sector Union

  • About Our Union
  • Media & News
  • Resources
  • Issues
  • Action Centre
  • Join the Union
Media & News

National President Meinema discusses building back better with Prime Minister, cabinet ministers

Ottawa – December 17, 2020 – UFCW Canada National President Paul Meinema met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal cabinet ministers this week in a series of calls and virtual meetings about the latest impacts of COVID-19 on UFCW Canada members and the need to build back better.

“Throughout the pandemic, UFCW Canada has been actively calling on government to put the health and safety of frontline members at the centre of public supports for employers, and to make sure that labour has a priority seat at the table for any discussion about rebuilding the post-COVID economy,” says President Meinema. “We are also using every opportunity to assert our position that frontline workers need frontline protections, and that the crucial contributions that UFCW Canada members make towards meeting the day-to-day needs of Canadians must be reflected in future vaccine rollouts.”

Prime Minister Trudeau thanked UFCW Canada members across the country for their outstanding efforts throughout the pandemic and acknowledged the need for UFCW to have a meaningful voice in conversations about building back better. President Meinema and the Prime Minister also talked about the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), and the union’s position that reform is urgently needed to better protect migrant food workers. The conversation with the Prime Minister followed a more detailed exchange about TFWP reform with the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, a few days prior.  

President Meinema also led a productive meeting with Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau this week focused on pandemic challenges faced by UFCW Canada members in the meatpacking, food processing, and food manufacturing sectors. While progress has been made on many of the union’s health and safety protocols, line speeds continue to run at rates that make physical distancing especially difficult, and the union continues to advocate on this issue.   

To help support UFCW Canada’s advocacy efforts for frontline members, please endorse and share the Pay it Forward: Show Your Support for Frontline Workers! campaign.

Today, #UFCW Canada met virtually w/ the Minister of Agriculture + Agri-Food @mclaudebibeau to discuss the impacts of #COVID19 on agri-food workers and the challenges UFCW Canada members are facing amid the second wave.

Thank you Minister Bibeau for a productive meeting. pic.twitter.com/pCpPQeWMC1

— Paul Meinema (@PaulMeinemaUFCW) December 15, 2020
  • Media & News
    • News
      • Topics
      • Press Releases
    • Media
      • Posters
    • Subscribe to E-news

Media Contact

For media inquiries, please email [email protected] with the word ‘Media’ in the subject line.

  • Find our brand guidelines here.
  • Join the Union
  • About Our Union
    • About Our Union
      • Find Your Local Union
      • National President
      • National Council
      • Constitution
      • Union History
      • UFCW Canada Annual Report
      • Brand Guidelines
      • Join UFCW Canada
  • Media & News
    • Media & News
      • News
      • Media
      • Subscribe to E-news
  • Resources
    • Resources
      • Stand for Canada, Shop UFCW-made
      • The National Defence Fund
      • Migrant Members
      • Union Training & Scholarships
      • Member Discounts
      • Health & Safety
      • UFCW Canada Equity Grant Program
  • Issues
    • Issues
      • Leukemia Fundraising
      • Political Action
      • Women and Gender Equity
      • Social Justice
      • The Union for Agriculture Workers
      • UFCW Pride – Union Pride!
      • Young Workers
      • Food Justice
      • Global Solidarity
      • Uber Drivers United
      • Conscious Cannabis
  • Action Centre
    • Action Centre
      • Affordability for All
      • Violence is not part of the job: Respect Frontline Workers!
      • Make Truth and Reconciliation a paid day of recognition and remembrance
      • Paid Sick Days Now!
      • Migrant workers deserve permanent residency
      • End the Heritage Inn Lockout Now
  • Join the Union
    • Join the Union
      • Why UFCW Canada
      • Union Advantage
      • Union Facts
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Everything About Unions
      • Industries We Represent
      • Workplaces We Represent
      • How to Join a Union
      • Join Now

Login

FacebookXYoutube2Instagram

Copyright © 2025 UFCW Canada. All Rights Reserved
United Food and Commercial Workers Union
Canada's private sector union