UFCW Canada activists bring strong voice to first day of OFL Convention

Click on the image above to see the photo gallery.

Toronto – November 25, 2013 – UFCW Canada activists were out in full force at the 12th Biennial Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) Convention which opened Monday in Toronto. The convention, which runs from November 25 to 29, brings together affiliated unions and labour councils from across the province to review and vote on resolutions; elect OFL officers; provides the OFL committees and caucuses an opportunity to formalize working plans and strategies; and presents a series of guest speakers and forums aimed at building equality, workers' rights, and fighting back against the ultra-conservative attack on workers and their unions.

UFCW Canada activists led the way on a number of resolutions, including one about the recent closure of the Heinz plant in Leamington, Ontario. UFCW Canada Local 175 activist Marc Praill spoke on the Leamington resolution which received unanimous approval from delegates as one of the convention's most important resolves. With more than 650 UFCW Canada Local 459 members soon to be out of work, the UFCW Canada resolution calls on the Ontario government to commit resources and work with UFCW Canada to create a viable action plan to find new ownership and uses for the plant to provide good union jobs.

UFCW Canada delegates were also a leading voice during the Human Rights Forum, discussing a number of social justice resolutions focused on supporting Aboriginal, disabled, racialized, LGBTQ, and other marginalized communities; including Temporary Foreign Workers, whose issues were strongly voiced by UFCW activists throughout the session.