FedForward team to lead a new era at the Ontario Federation of Labour

Toronto – November 24, 2015 – The FedForward team of Chris Buckley, Patti Coates, and UFCW Canada Local 1000A activist Ahmad Gaied will be leading a new era at the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) as the new executive officers of the OFL. On Tuesday, at the 13th Biennial OFL Convention Toronto, Brother Buckley, a long-time community activist and local union president, was acclaimed as the new OFL President. Sister Coates, an activist and local union president, was acclaimed as the OFL’s new Secretary-Treasurer. Brother Ahmad Gaied, a UFCW Canada Local 1000A member engagement representative, who faced two other candidates, was handily elected as OFL Executive Vice-President.

The FedForward team had campaigned on a platform to rebuild and revitalize the OFL through greater grassroots and labour council engagement; enhancing the OFL’s political action and lobby capacity; providing a central role to help workers win their job action battles; and making equity a central priority for all OFL campaigns and initiatives.

“We want to congratulate all the members of the FedForward team. Their vision, experience, and commitment to workers rights and the union movement are good news for the OFL, its affiliates, and all workers in Ontario,” says UFCW Canada National President Paul Meinema. “And we are especially proud of Brother Ahmad Gaied, who we know will make a tremendous contribution in his new role as OFL Executive Vice-President, just as he has for many years as a UFCW Canada Local 1000A activist.”

The convention runs until November 27. A full round-up of the 13th Biennial OFL Convention will appear in the Monday, November 30th edition of Directions.