UFCW activists build for future at 2024 Growth Summit

Toronto – October 31, 2024 – UFCW activists gathered in Toronto this week for the UFCW Canada 2024 Growth Summit. This event brings together organizers and activists from local unions across Canada, to share strategies, learn innovative ideas and build upon UFCW’s strong organizing culture.

The 2024 Growth Summit focused on emerging and traditional sectors and new trends and innovative ways to reach new potential members and build a campaign. In emerging sectors, participants heard from UFCW organizers sharing their recent wins in sectors such as video games, bookstores, app-based work and more with the new digital shop floor. Seasoned organizers from Canada and the U.S. shared their experiences of successful and unsuccessful campaigns, and how to combat anti-union employer campaigns and new ways to reach workers in this digital age.  

UFCW Canada National President Shawn Haggerty welcomed participants in his opening address, stressing, “There could not be a more critical time for us to gather as activists to share what is and what is not working when it comes to growing our union. For too many workers across the country the promise of Canada is slowly slipping out of reach: the promises of decent work seem to be retreating while the world gains a new billionaire almost every day.”

Many sessions focused on the current rapid changes occurring in society and workplaces, as technologies change how our world functions. Participants explored new demographic and technology trends, and how unions are more crucial than ever before in protecting workers. Experts in A.I., labour law, sectoral bargaining, digital communication strategies, data analysis trends, and more shared their knowledge with participants.

Other sessions focused on empowering migrant workers in Canada, sharing advice from the recent victories and how UFCW is offering support to migrant members in achieving permanent residency in Canada. Speakers stressed that unions are the best way to protect migrant workers, and that only unions can offer the protections they need – a voice in a workplace.

"We know the best way to fight corporate greed is through union solidarity digging in the old-fashioned way empowering the worker next to us to build our country, communities, and workplaces,” added Haggerty. “The industries may change, the jobs may evolve, but when union solidarity is constant and unwavering, there is no challenge that we cannot overcome."

The summit finished with a keynote address from UFCW’s own Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, who spoke to the recent labour movement wins, the challenges facing workers today, and the power of collective action and solidarity.