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Ottawa – November 8, 2018 – UFCW Canada National President Paul Meinema, alongside UFCW Local Union presidents and activists from across the country, recently gathered in Ottawa for a series of political action meetings focused on finding pro-worker solutions to income inequality, automation, food security, labour rights, pharmacare, and more.

“As the leading voice for private sector workers in Canada, it is crucial that we advocate for public policy that puts the rights of workers first,” says UFCW Canada National President Paul Meinema. “This is why we are here – calling on MPs to take action on a number of issues that directly affect UFCW members,” the UFCW leader adds.

Throughout the day, UFCW Canada leaders and activists met with Jagmeet Singh, Leader of the NDP; Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workplace Development, and Labour; Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women; Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism; Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development; Matthew Dubé, NDP Caucus Chair; Gord Johns, NDP MP for Courtenay–Alberni; Scott Duvall, NDP Critic for Pensions; Rodger Cuzner, MP for Cape Breton–Canso; Tracey Ramsey, NDP Critic of International Trade; Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP Critic of Youth and Post-Secondary Education; Alistair MacGregor, NDP Critic of Agriculture; Karine Trudel, NDP Critic of Labour; and Jean-Claude Poissant, MP for La Prairie.

The meetings serve to introduce federal politicians to the incredible work of UFCW Canada and its Local Unions from coast to coast. Activists also engaged politicians on a number of issues that are of importance to UFCW Canada members, including closing the gender wage gap, the creation of a national pharmacare plan, the displacement of workers due to increasing automation, a national food policy, food security, and the rights of workers in the event of store closures.

UFCW Canada has a longstanding history of supporting parties and candidates that stand up for workers and their families and believes that achieving a better life for members involves more than negotiating strong collective agreements in the workplace – it also requires engaging in the political process to ensure that workers can enjoy high quality public services and laws that protect our rights, health, and safety on the job. To learn more about UFCW Canada’s political action efforts, click here.