Fighting Together for a Better World in 2025
Dear UFCW family,
As 2024 draws to a close, let us take the time to celebrate the victories of the past year, and reflect upon the challenges we overcame. As we head into the next year, our union and the labour movement as a whole are facing a world of rising instability and inequality, and united, we can stand together and build a better future.
2024 was a year of change and growth in our union. We achieved organizing victories across the country in key sectors: food retail, food processing, hospitality, primary agriculture, cannabis, social services and more, while continuing to expand into emerging sectors such as app-based work. In a national first, hundreds of workers at Highline Mushrooms made history this yearas the largest group of farm workers ever to unionize in Canada when they joined UFCW 1518.
Facing the skyrocketing cost-of-living, UFCW members marched to the picket lines repeatedly this year. Workers at Cargill, Maple Leaf Foods, Quebec City Library, and more, with the powerful support of the National Defense Fundat their backs, were able to make their voice heard and achieve fair collective agreements.
Our local unions signed industry-leading collective agreements with food retail giants, recognizing the turmoil that the pandemic years took on frontline workers. UFCW members continue to fight for the rights of frontline workers to be safe on the job from workplace violence.
UFCW Canada continued to advance the agenda of decent work for all. In May, we held the first-ever Social Partner Forum in North America, fostering dialogue between the key stakeholders of labour, employers and government. Our union continued to fight tirelessly for our migrant members, advocating for reform to our temporary work programs, and building programs to support our migrant members.
2024 was also a year of loss as our union grieved the loss of Sister Kim Novak, President of UFCW 1518 and long-time UFCW activist who passed away in May. Together, the strong team at 1518 continues to build on Kim’s vision for better future for workers in Canada.
Looking forward to 2025, we are facing tumultuous times: reckless extremists like Pierre Poilievre are pushing destructive, billionaire agendas across the globe. It is only by standing united together that we will build a better future for all workers.
UFCW Canada wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday season, and a prosperous and healthy New Year!
In solidarity,
Shawn Haggerty
National President, UFCW Canada
