UFCW strengthens Ontario labour movement at 2021 OFL Convention

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Toronto – November 5, 2021 – UFCW Canada activists from across Ontario led the way at the 16th Biennial Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) Convention, involving hundreds of delegates and leaders representing one million union members throughout the province.

During the three-day convention, held virtually from November 2 to 4, UFCW played a key role in helping to re-elect the United Together team of OFL President Patty Coates, Secretary-Treasurer Ahmad Gaied, and Executive Vice-President Janice Folk-Dawson to build the collective power of working Ontarians and achieve a just recovery from COVID-19.  

Brother Gaied, Sister Coates, and Sister Folk-Dawson won re-election to the OFL Executive with super majorities of support from delegates, many of whom displayed United Together Zoom backgrounds to show their solidarity with the team.

UFCW activists also played an important role in passing and speaking on several urgent resolutions, including measures that commit the OFL to expanding organizing efforts, supporting Ontario’s New Democrats, building a more diverse and inclusive labour movement, demanding emergency pay for frontline workers, and calling for protections for employees who are asked to work alone. These resolutions form the basis of the OFL’s new Action Plan, which will guide the federation’s work over the next two years.

In addition, UFCW Canada mobilized delegates to support entertainment workers in downtown Toronto, who are currently organizing to join UFCW Local 1006A.

Over the course of the action-packed convention, delegates heard from Beatrice Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress; Andrea Horwath, Leader of the Ontario NDP; and Gilary Massa, Lead Consultant at Inclusive Leaders; among many other participants. Convention-goers also recognized the heroic efforts of frontline workers through the coronavirus pandemic and honoured the integral work of health and safety advocates.  

The next OFL Convention will be held in the fall of 2023.