Julie Kotsis

Julie Kotsis is Chairperson of Unifor’s Media Council, representing 10,000 media workers across the country who work in print, digital, broadcast and as freelancers in television and movie production.

She has been involved in the union for 30 years, holding a number of positions including being elected twice as Local 1st Vice-President, serving two terms as a Local trustee and 10 years as the Local’s WSIB rep.

She is also Unit Chairperson at the Windsor Star, where she works full-time as a reporter/photographer. The Windsor Star has been a unit of Local 87-M since 2024.

Kotsis has bargained five collective agreements at the Windsor Star, including two rounds as lead bargainer of the Joint Council of Unions that represented unionized members front to back at the Windsor Star and included the Star’s printing plant before it was shuttered in 2023. 

She is also a certified Health and Safety Rep who served on the JHSC at the Star for more than 20 years.

Kotsis has been active on many Local committees including the Women’s committee, Political Action and Education committees. 

She’s been a National Discussion Leader since 2008, facilitating a wide variety of courses, including topics ranging from pay equity, collective bargaining, grievance handling, respectful workplaces, women in leadership, ergonomics and more. 

Community involvement is also important to her. She was a United Way Cabinet member for Windsor-Essex County and is a regular volunteer for the Windsor Goodfellows.

Ensuring the rights of working people has always been her passion, as well as inclusivity, mentoring and a willingness to listen to all member voices.