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The first day of the Ontario Regional Council saw the delegates focus on key issues for the future of the province and the country.
After a rousing welcome by Chair Dino Chiodo and a smudging ceremony and Aboriginal welcome from Candace Lavalley, Ontario Regional Director Katha Fortier gave a detailed report of the activities of the union since the last council.
From health care to women’s rights to bargaining table struggles, she outlined a number of victories and areas that will require the full attention of the membership in the coming year, including the federal election.
“Harper and the Conservatives love splitting the vote. And they have now taken that principle to a new level: splitting family incomes in order to benefit wealthy families that tend to support the Conservatives,” said Fortier. “There are 106 federal ridings in Ontario, which means 106 opportunities to stop Harper!”
Guest speakers Sid Ryan, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, and Hassan Yussuff, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, spoke passionately about the need to mobilize every member to fight regressive policies and austerity agendas in Ontario.
National Secretary-Treasurer Peter Kennedy gave a level review of Unifor’s first year, noting that with each misstep the union learned, and with each victory the union proved that it was meeting or exceeding the goals it set for itself at Founding Convention.
Delegates ended the day feeling energized and focused on the hard work ahead.
