UFCW Canada makes its mark at 2019 OFL Convention

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Toronto – December 2, 2019 – UFCW Canada activists from across Ontario led the way at the 15th Biennial Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) Convention, involving more than 1,000 delegates and leaders representing hundreds of thousands of union members throughout the province.

During the week-long convention, held from November 25 to 29 in Toronto, UFCW played a major role in helping to elect the Vision Forward team of OFL President Patty Coates, Secretary-Treasurer Ahmad Gaied, and Executive Vice-President Janice Folk-Dawson to continue strengthening the federation over the next three years.

With widespread support from delegates wearing Vision Forward bandanas, Brother Gaied was acclaimed as OFL Secretary-Treasurer, while Sister Coates and Sister Folk-Dawson won election as President and Executive Vice-President of the federation, respectively.

UFCW activists also played a key role in passing and speaking on several important resolutions, including measures that commit the OFL to advocating for enhanced labour rights and greater legislative protections for Commissionaires and workers in the gig economy; protecting the good union jobs of workers at The Beer Store; and pressuring retailers to abandon toxic cash receipts.

As well, UFCW Canada Local 1006A member-activist Rechev Browne was re-elected as Vice President Alternate for the OFL Workers of Colour Committee.

In addition to rallying activists on the convention floor, UFCW Canada dedicated the week to mobilizing delegates through several ground-breaking campaigns for fairness, including the Uber Drivers United, Ditch Toxic Receipts, and #NoMore initiatives, which conventioneers enthusiastically supported while passing by the dynamic UFCW Canada information booth.

Over the course of the action-packed convention, delegates heard from Matthew Green, Member of Parliament (MP) for Hamilton Centre; spoken word poet Cassandra Myers; Daniel Zannoti, CEO of United Way Centraide Canada; Felicia Samuel, Executive Member of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO); and Janice Martell, Founder of the McIntyre Powder Project, among others. Activists also rallied on the streets of Toronto to demand fairness for Ontario’s teachers, students, and educational assistants.

The next OFL Convention will be held in the fall of 2021.