Our People

Laura Walton is the President of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), Canada’s largest provincial labour federation. She was elected to the position at the OFL Enough is Enough 17th Biennial Convention in 2023.

Laura served as president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees’ Ontario School Boards Council of Unions (OSBCU) starting in 2019. In addition to her role with OSBCU, Laura also served on the CUPE Ontario Executive Board.

With a firm belief in the equalizing power of inclusive public education, Laura led her 55,000 coworkers across Ontario to withdraw their labour for two days in November 2022 in protest of the Ford government using the notwithstanding clause to ram through legislation that imposed a contract on CUPE education workers.

Frontline workers, a united labour movement, and overwhelming community support compelled a Conservative majority in the provincial legislature to repeal its anti-worker Bill 28 in record time. The lowest-paid education workers ultimately resisted concessions and negotiated a $1 per hour pay increase each year for four years after a decade of legislated wage erosion.

Laura is proud of her rural roots growing up in Belleville where she worked in radio and marketing and supported children with special needs as an educational assistant. Previously she served as president of CUPE Local 1022 which represents the education workers of Hastings and Prince Edward County District School Board.

Follow @WaltonMom on Twitter

To reach Laura’s Administrative Support, contact:
Judy Chow, Administrative Support
e: jchow@ofl.ca

Ahmad Gaied is the Secretary-Treasurer of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), Canada’s largest provincial labour federation. He was re-elected to the position at the OFL Enough is Enough 17th Biennial Convention in 2023.

Ahmad was first elected to the OFL executive at the OFL’s biennial Convention in November 2015 at the age of 33, Ahmad is the youngest officer in the history of the Ontario Federation of Labour. He is also a Worker of Colour and a proud member of the Muslim community in Toronto.

He is an ardent supporter of grassroots and worker-led initiatives to assist organizing non-union workers so that they can benefit from union representation.

A long-time activist and community advocate, Ahmad began his trade union activism as a chief steward at his No Frills store in 2003 and rose through the ranks to the position of Member Engagement Representative for UFCW Canada Local 1000A.

Within his union, Ahmad has also served as a certified member of the Joint Health and Safety Committee, and was elected to UFCW Canada’s Toronto Divisional Board for both Loblaw and No Frills units, representing retail workers across the GTA. He is also a frequent instructor and facilitator on labour rights issues and has led numerous initiatives on engaging young workers.

In addition to his labour union activism, Ahmad is a dedicated community advocate. He currently volunteers with the not-for-profit, non-partisan organization Canadian Muslim Vote, dedicated to encouraging the Muslim community to engage in the electoral process. Ahmad is Vice-President of the federal NDP Scarborough North riding association and has worked extensively as an NDP voter contact organizer in the GTA and throughout the country — most notably in the 2015 Alberta election that led to a sweeping NDP victory.

Ahmad also worked as Employment Insurance (EI) worker representative and referee before the role of EI referee was abolished by the Harper Conservative government.

Ahmad self-identifies as Canadian, Libyan, Arab and African. Ahmad speaks both English and Arabic, which he uses to build bridges within the community.

As part of the new generation of workers who are facing the most precarious labour market in our country’s history, Ahmad is committed to mobilizing youth and equity-seeking workers to stop Ontario’s race to the bottom.

Follow @AhmadGaiedOFL on Twitter.

To reach Ahmad’s Administrative Support, contact:
nbrayiannis@ofl.ca 

Michael Hamilton was elected Executive Vice-President of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) at the 18th Biennial Convention. He is a proud member of OPSEU/SEFPO Region 3 and served as President of the Liquor Board Employees Division (LBED) Local 376.

A committed equity-driven leader, Michael was an active member of the OPSEU/SEFPO Coalition of Racialized Workers and the OPSEU/SEFPO Solidarity Committee, where he worked to strengthen representation, advance anti-racism, and build inclusive worker-led spaces across the union. Within LBED, Michael has served in several key roles, including Labour Management Committee Chair, Employment Equity Committee Member, and Communications and Education Committee Member.

His work spanned bargaining support, employment equity, and strategic organizing rooted in member engagement. Throughout his career, Michael has championed racial justice, safer working conditions, and fair treatment for all workers. Known for his ability to bring workers together and amplify their voices at the local, regional, and provincial levels, Michael entered his role as OFL Executive Vice-President with a firm commitment to equity, solidarity, and expanding worker power across Ontario.

To reach Michael’s Administrative Support, contact:
Judy Chow, Administrative support
e: JChow@ofl.ca