UFCW forms largest union delegation at historic NDP convention

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Montreal – April 15, 2013 – UFCW Canada activists gathered in Montreal from April 12 to 15 to create the largest union delegation at the 2013 NDP Convention, which adopted a new preamble for the party and passed a number of key resolutions to strengthen the NDP’s momentum, and to prepare for 2015: when Canadians will elect Tom Mulcair to lead a new government that puts the interests of working families first.

One resolution submitted by UFCW Canada regarding “Foreign Investment Review and Target” was passed unanimously by convention, which included more than 2,100 delegates – the largest in NDP history.

The resolution – inspired by Target’s shameful treatment of Zellers workers and their communities – calls for a NDP government to make foreign corporations more accountable by lowering the threshold for a full review under the Investment Canada Act, and to prioritize the impact on employees and their working conditions when determining the “net benefit” to the country.

UFCW Canada activists also led the way in passing several resolutions involving migrant and temporary foreign workers, including an important resolution to Employment Insurance (EI), which calls for a NDP government to cancel the Conservative clawback of parental benefits for migrant workers – despite the fact that migrant workers collectively contribute tens of millions of dollars to the EI system every year.

To find out more about the 2013 NDP convention and the party’s new preamble, visit www.ndp.ca.