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Toronto – November 10, 2014 – UFCW Canada national and Local Union leaders gathered recently at the UFCW National Council held in Toronto. Two of the major points on the agenda were UFCW Canada’s organizing efforts in the retail food industry, as well as strategizing the best ways to build political momentum for fairness, as workers in Canada face unprecedented assaults on their labour rights from governments at all levels.  

The National Council members also discussed UFCW Canada’s ongoing commitment to support migrant workers in organizing, and in securing their human and labour rights. As Canada’s most progressive union, the leadership also discussed further advances in the union’s diversity and inclusion training and programs.

The National Council also welcomed former NDP leader Ed Broadbent, as well as Broadbent Institute director Rick Smith, to discuss the evolution of social democratic values and the challenges they face in the wake of the ultra-conservative agenda. The Broadbent Institute is an independent, progressive think-tank that promotes democracy, equality, and sustainability and the training of a new generation of leaders.

"Brother Broadbent’s visit was an empowering reminder how critical it is for progressive allies to work together to protect and advance fairness for working people and their communities,” said National President Paul Meinema. “A federal election is less than a year away. It is a tremendous opportunity for positive change and we are preparing for it.”

As the union's national executive board, the UFCW Canada National Council meets twice a year to assess the state of the union and decide on national strategies for strengthening the membership's bargaining power with employers and helping more workers unionize.