Share
Retirees from across Canada attended the Retired Workers Council from Aug. 31 to Sept. 5, 2025, to discuss political issues, march in the annual Port Elgin Labour Day parade, and to stand in solidarity with Canadian workers as they fight back against the tariff war initiated by the United States.
“For a lot of retirees, their kids are still working in the plants and they’re thinking of them,” said Barb Dolan, Unifor Retired Workers Director.
“They don’t just discuss issues impacting seniors, they’re ‘everyone’ issues. Including everything from paying for RSV doses, the housing crisis, the Health Act – all of that is geared for all communities. They care about what’s going on in society. They have that passion.”
Dolan, during the Unifor barbecue following the Labour Day parade, paid tribute to former CAW President and labour legend Buzz Hargrove. On Tuesday, the council watched a memorial video honouring Hargrove’s achievements.
“He loved working people, he ate, slept and thought about working people – that was his passion,” she said. “He will be missed.”
More than 200 participants – retirees from age 58 to mid-90s – gathered in Unifor’s Family Education Centre in Port Elgin, Ont. for the council. Dolan said the numbers are picking up steam from outside of Ontario, including in Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, and the East Coast.
During his speech to the council on Tuesday, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer Len Poirier noted that many of the national union’s programs and initiatives commenced in the era of labour leaders Bob White and Hargrove, and many retired members in attendance.
“Since the Constitutional Convention of 2022, Buzz has attended each of the National Executive Board meetings held here at this centre, including just a few months ago here in May,” said Poirier.
“His contributions and interventions will be remembered.”
Poirier also gave the delegates updates on the union’s ongoing work with retiree benefits, strike support, and how Unifor is fighting to protect Canadian jobs from the tariffs.
“I imagine everyone here wakes up every day to wondering what the tariff news of the day will be. Never have we seen or could imagine a U.S. president upsetting the world’s economics as we are experiencing today,” he said.
“Just about every sector or industry of our membership is being affected and thank you all for your continued support of Unifor at rallies. We thank you.”
The Retired Workers Council discussed 24 resolutions, including health care, pensions, lobbying the government over various issues, elder abuse, Fair Vote Canada, establishing a united Canadian Auto Pact, response to the tariffs, and organizing gig workers, among others.
“We’re growing so much,” said Retired Workers Council Executive Chairperson Les MacDonald. “We’re telling retirees to go out and start their Retired Workers Chapters and area councils.”
Quebec member Michael Thibault won the Outstanding Retired Worker of the Year Award, for his lifetime of work fighting poverty, supporting children in need, and organizing various leisure activities for our Local 1163 and now, Local 698.
The council also heard a keynote address by Canada’s Secretary of State for Seniors, Stephanie McLean.
The council held elections for 25 executive and committee member positions.
Returning to their positions were:
• Les MacDonald, Chair
• Jean Simpson, Recording Secretary
• Stephanie Johnstone, LGBTQ member-at-large
• Brian Murphy, Atlantic member-at-large
• Richard Fournier, Quebec member-at-large
• Tony Sisti, Ontario member-at-large
• Charlene Matheson, Prairie member-at-large
• Fred Dougan, member-at-large
• Arnie de Vaan, member-at-large
• Jean-Michel Montiel, member-at-large
• Chris Wilski, member-at-large
The new elected members include:
• Marcel Rondeau, Vice-Chair
• Jaspal Brar, BIWOC member-at-large
• Rick Bizarro, B.C. member-at-large
