Convention 2019: Power of Many

The following resolutions were carried on November 29, 2019 by the Ontario Federation of Labour: 133. To make (PPE) Equipment That Meets The Health and Safety Needs of All Women in the Workplace.79. Restore Funding for Legal Aid Services and Access to Justice for Low-Income Ontarians38. Benefit Program for Precarious Workers, Contract Workers, Employees and…

Premier Doug Ford is now a year and a half into his term and his government has already cancelled the $15 minimum wage and introduced several bills that roll back labour rights.  There are many reasons to believe we will see more attacks on collective bargaining in the near future, according to Joshua Mandryk, and…

Ontario’s already cash-strapped legal aid community is facing major cuts and providers are concerned they will not be able to support low-income Ontarians who need the protections they can provide, a panel told the delegates at the OFL’s Power of Many conference Wednesday. Megan Stephens, Executive Director and General Counsel of the Women’s Legal Education…

Kathy Le, CUPE Local 2484 most active retiree, is the recipient of the 2019 Olivia Chow Child Care Champion Award. If you have been out to Toronto rallies about childcare, in support of the minimum wage or to end cuts to health care, you have probably seen Kathy with her flower bedecked bicycle, standing in…

Abdi Hagi Yusuf, with CUPW, is the 2019 recipient of the Bob Borch Human Rights Award, which was established in 2002 to recognize the OFL Executive Board member, trade union activist and champion of human rights. “I am humbled to receive this award, which I accept on behalf of everyone in the labour movement who…

The OFL’s Director of Research, Thevaki Thevaratnam presented the organization’s Power of Many vision document and action plan on Monday. Friday, the document was passed, providing a clear direction for the OFL in coming years. The OFL will spur a people-led movement for social, economic and environmental justice for all and make Ontario a better…

The following resolutions were carried on November 28, 2019 by the Ontario Federation of Labour: 140. Compensating All Mesothelioma Cases136. Prevention Link Resources58. Improve Public Education By Reducing Violence In The Classroom127. Vicarious Trauma130. Calling for Mandatory Health and Safety Training Standards125. Pressure Canadian Retailers To Stop Using Toxic Cash Receipts

According to Sylvia Boyce, Health, Safety and Environment Coordinator with USW District 6, “Occupational diseases are the leading cause of death in Ontario. Most occupational diseases go unrecognized and undetected.” Boyce shared this stark reality with delegates attending Thursday’s session of the OFL 2019 Power of Many Convention. The panel also included Natasha Luckhardt, the…

As working-class anger over economic inequality and the precarity of work grows, the Alt-Right has taken up populist tactics, rallying voices of hate and division, and it’s working. In today’s workshop titled The Alt-Right’s Authoritarian Populism and What We Can Do to Counter It OFL delegates learned what the Alt-Right is, what it believes, how…

The labour movement has always stepped up to challenges, and accepting refugees into our community is no different, according to Sharon Simpson, the Special Projects Coordinator for Labour Community Services. Simpson and David Rapaport, CUPE Local 3908, presented a short video from the United Nations Refugee Agency to delegates at the OFL’s Power of Many…

Michelle Blais is the recipient of the Ontario Federation of Labour 2019 Solidarity and Pride Activist Award. A secondary school teacher with the OECTA Toronto Secondary Unit, Michelle has been a trailblazer for 2SLGBTQI+ issues and rights, both within her organization and the broader community. “I stand before you as an out and proud catholic…

On the day that the OFL elected its first ever female president, a panel was held at the Power of Many convention to highlight the work women have done across the labour movement. The panel, moderated by Carolyn Ferns, the Public Policy and Government Relations Coordinator for the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, featured…

Newly elected Member of Parliament for Hamilton Centre, Matthew Green, delivered a rousing address to the almost-1000 delegates at the Ontario Federation of Labour Power of Many Convention on Wednesday morning. “The monster in Doug Ford is real,” said Green. “But the ghosts of 15 years of liberalism continue to haunt us.” Green, who was…

The following resolutions were carried on November 27, 2019 by the Ontario Federation of Labour: 97. Union Solidarity Against FascismER1: Coup d’état in Bolivia100. Standing Against Hate and Islamophobia88. Environmental Justice For Racialized Low-Income And Indigenous Ontarians84. Reproductive Rights93. Support UNDRIP114. Support For People With Chronic Long-Term Disabilities

Ontario’s unions marched on Queen’s Park to demand that the Ford stop his agenda of cuts that are hurting the most vulnerable and get back to building an Ontario for all. In spite of the wind and the rain, workers sent a united message against Ford’s cuts. The Power of Many rally was a key…

Delegates at the Ontario Federation of Labour’s Power of Many convention took time today to recognize the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the 16 global days of action to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence. Many wore purple to mark the days of action, which include on December 6, the…

Ken Maclam, Vice President of OPSEU local 740 and Chair of OPSEU Provincial Young Worker’s Committee, is the recipient of the 2019 Power of Many OFL Young Worker’s Award. The OFL Young Worker’s Award, which is presented at each convention, goes to a young worker or youth activist who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in mobilizing…

The following resolutions were carried on November 26, 2019 by the Ontario Federation of Labour: 89. Grassy Narrows Support46. The Effect Of Privatization On Women35. Pay Equity Enforcement56. Oppose BIG Box For Profit Child Care59. Full-Day Kindergarten60. Opposing Public Funding Of Private Education In Ontario62. Post-Secondary Funding50. Address Ambulance Services Restructuring53. Invest In Mental Health…

The Regional Representatives of the Canadian Labour Congress’ (CLC) Ontario Region, including Lisa Bastien, Gogi Bhandal, Mehdi Kouhestaninejad, Kim Kent, Josh Moraes and Heather Erlen, are the recipients of the 2019 inaugural OFL Labour Council Builder Award. The award was established at the 2017 Convention was presented this week for the first time in honour…

Joseanne Job, OFL Vice-President of Young Workers moderated a forum on Monday afternoon, titled Young Workers’ Powering the Future of Decent Work at the Power of Many Convention. The panel, which examined the gig economy, included Heider Zahid, Member IBEW Local 353 and IBEW NextGen Young Workers Committee and Central Ontario Building Trades Hammer Heads…

Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, voiced his support for Ontario’s teachers during his keynote speech at the OFL’s Power of Many Convention. “If the Premier was to dare remember, he graduated from the public school system,” Yussuff said. “We will mobilize this province like we’ve never done before. We did it with…

(TORONTO, ON) – In an historic election, Patty Coates is the first woman to be elected President of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL). Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) delegates have elected Coates and her team, Secretary-Treasurer Ahmad Gaied and Executive Vice-President Janice Folk-Dawson to lead the Federation’s fight against the Conservative austerity agenda. “It is a…

Celebrated Canadian performer in music, TV, film, and dance, Bif Naked, is the recipient of the 2019 OFL Cultural Award. A tireless advocate and humanitarian, Bif was orphaned in India, emancipated by punk rock, and empowered by surviving breast cancer, kidney failure, heart surgery, divorce, and has survived as a woman in the entertainment industry…

From flooding in the north to forest fires in the west, climate change is undeniable and became the focus of discussion this morning at the Ontario Federation of Labour 15th Biennial Convention. John Cartwright, President of the Toronto York Region Labour Council, moderated the session and provided valuable insight for delegates on how the climate…

The OFL Women’s Caucus gathered to pay tribute to a woman who has been working in the labour movement for over 30 years. Dozens of women took to two microphones to celebrate Carrol Anne Sceviour, who is now retiring. Sceviour was commended not only for the work she has done on issues such as sexual…

In a lunch-hour workshop, Ontario Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Randy Robinson, delivered an informative session about underfunding of Ontario Services and how that hits families and the most vulnerable.  Randy went over the sequential series of PC and Liberal Finance Ministers that have eroded the Ontario’s revenue position.  “They’ll tell ya…

The following resolutions were carried on Monday, November 25, 2019 by the Ontario Federation of Labour: 18. Keep Fighting for Decent Work 19. Protect Temp Agency Workers 67.* as amended – Student Choice Initiative 22. Repeal Bill 124 and Restore Free and Fair Collective Bargaining to Ontario’s Public Sector and Broader Public Sector 33. Campaign on Domestic Violence Leave…

In his opening address to the Ontario Federation of Labour’s Power of Many 15th Biennial Convention, President Chris Buckley reminded delegates how important the work of the labour movement is in the province.  Buckley, who announced in July that he would not run for re-election, celebrated the steadfast activism that has met every cut and…

Every year since 1984, the Ontario Federal of Labour (OFL) has inducted five retired or deceased trade unionists into the OFL Labour Honour Roll. This prestigious recognition is intended to acknowledge the significant contributions of individual OFL members to the life and growth of the trade union movement in Ontario. The Labour Honour Roll is…

Download the call for nominations The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) is seeking nominations from affiliates, local unions and labour councils for the upcoming OFL 15thBiennial Convention Awards:  Bob Borch Human Rights Award, Cliff Pilkey Labour Activist Award, Olivia Chow Child Care Champion Award, OFL Cultural Award, Linda Jolley Lifetime Achievement Award for Health and Safety,…

Don’t miss the OFL Young Workers’ SUMMIT on SATURDAY, November 23, 2019.

Register online now. Greetings,  The 15th Biennial Convention of the Ontario Federation of Labour will be held from Monday, November 25 to Friday, November 29, 2019 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario.  For the 15th biennial convention of the OFL, we meet under the banner of the Power of Many, as…