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Embracing the momentum
The opening day of Unifor’s 2024 Canadian Council in Montreal, Que., was moving, inspiring and full of support. Delegates were officially welcomed by Don Barnaby, a Mi'kmaq First Nations member and traditional dancer, who spoke about his journey of healing generational trauma.
With Barnaby’s remarks and a powerful discussion on Sunday morning, the meeting both opened and closed with a focus on Indigenous rights and the lifelong work of reconciliation.
Unifor National President Lana Payne described the momentum workers and the union are experiencing right now as their “moment”, with members feeling the motivation to push for better working conditions, fair wages and benefits.
“We did this together,” said Payne. “I can’t promise the moment will last, but I did promise that we would be there, leading our members, flexing our union muscle and using the power we had when we had it. And so, we’ll just keep doing that. So, let’s go.”
Canadian Council show support for striking workers
Waving flags, striking members of Stablex in Blainville, Que. and Best Theratronics in Kanata, Ont., marched to the front of the stage to roaring cheers of the crowd. Final donations totaled $240,000 from locals, members and from the national union to help those on the picket lines.
In his speech, Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier conveyed immense pride that the union’s council was taking place in Montreal and all the hard work members have put into – whether at the picket line or in workplaces and for social and environmental justice.
Keep Poilievre out
Magali Picard, president of Fédération des Travailleurs et Travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), urged delegates to keep fighting against a Conservative Pierre Poilievre government. Poilievre has led a campaign to eliminate the Rand formula – a Supreme Court decision that established automatic dues check-off from all those covered by a collective agreement.
Read the full day one Canadian Council story
See the photos from the first day of Canadian Council.
Activism keeps growing hope
The second day opened with Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer Len Poirier’s report that highlighted the struggles within the telecommunications sector and championed the #ShameonBell campaign “following the massive unnecessary chaos Bell imposed on our members.”
A fateful day of political action resulted in Nova Scotia declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic. Unifor Regional Director Jennifer Murray retold the story and much more in her report.
Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle criticized Conservative Alberta Premier Danielle Smith for sweeping policy changes that target trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse youth.
Samia Hashi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director, called out Canada’s worst bosses – Bell and Best Theratronics – and said the hard work continues to hold the Doug Ford government accountable, particularly around health care privatization and affordable housing.
Council presents Bud Jimmerfield award to recipient
As the 2024 Bud Jimmerfield recipient, Robert Girard was acknowledged for his tireless and exemplary commitment to occupational health and safety, within his workplace, his union and his community.
Remembering the lives of two trade unionists
The council paid tribute to Gary Parent and Dave Moffat. Parent spent more than 40 years as a labour leader in his hometown of Windsor, Ont. at Unifor Local 444 and the Windsor and District Labour Council. Moffat, who held roles as president to Unifor Local 975 to Assistant to the National President, was a teacher and mentor in the labour movement.
Welcoming new members
Delegates heard inspiring stories from Walmart Mississauga, Ont. organizers and how they became certified after a grueling campaign against the company’s anti-union tactics, and from Canadian Association of Stand-Up, Sketch and Improve Comedians, who recently had comedians join Unifor as new members.
Read the full day two Canadian Council story.
See the photos from the second day of Canadian Council.
Unifor pledges its ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation in Canada
The closing day of Canadian Council became an opportunity for listening, learning, and teaching about Canada’s dark history with Indigenous people as it fell on the eve of National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, marked annually on Sept. 30.
Former National Chief Phil Fontaine shared his personal and powerful experience growing up in two residential schools over a period of a decade and how the orange shirt has transformed into a symbol of Canada’s dark history of “cultural genocide.”
As Canadian Council came to a close for another year, Payne left delegates with the hopeful message of solidarity and momentum to keep building on their moment.
“I believe that when we inspire each other in this union, we can do anything,” she said. “We’re going to keep organizing, fighting for workers every day. When we fight, we win!”
Read the full day three Canadian Council story.
See the photos from the final day of Canadian Council.
