Message from National President

In 2024, UFCW Canada made historic breakthroughs while celebrating notable milestones and achievements as the union for food, retail, healthcare, security, professional and industrial workers across Canada’s private sector.

As uncertainty and angst builds surrounding what is to come in 2025, the constant and consistent nature of UFCW Canada members to show up and serve their communities has been a source of inspiration that echoes our resilience as Canadians.

From major legislative reforms that have made life more affordable to historic organizing victories that is transforming industry and changing the meaning of decent work, UFCW Canda has been on frontline of progressive change.

In 2024, we made history when over 400 farm workers joined UFCW Canada at Highline Mushroom in Abbotsford, B.C. proving that when the legislative conditions are fair and reasonable, workers will choose to join a union to protect and secure their future. As some of the most vulnerable workers in Canada, these workers showed tremendous resolve and courage by taking this step and are now benefitting from the union advantage as a result.

Likewise, the introduction of the country’s national dental care program and starting the process to build out a national pharmacare program has proven to be the most effective strategy to fight the affordability crisis while making healthcare more accessible.

Of course, the path to economic security and financial stability across the country is not without challenges and workers willing to fight for change. Here the strength of UFCW Canada’s membership has been resolute.

For 41 days, nearly 1,000 workers at Cargill Dunlop in Guelph, Ontario took the company to task for better workplace rights and protections, securing major improvements to better their future and that of food processing workers across the country.

Despite noise of economic disruptions, fears around supply chain uncertainty and general anxiety about the country’s fate, the tried-and-true values embodied by UFCW Canada members gives hope for a future: a future where one hand lifts the other and our greatest strength is our shared resilience powered by solidarity and anchored in our service to each other.