A few weeks ago, thousands of Unifor members from across Canada travelled to Quebec City for Unifor’s Constitutional Convention – the highest decision-making body in our union. It was democracy in action, and a truly inspiring event. It is the basis of all that we do as a union.
The main order of business was electing our national leadership team: Jerry Dias was returned for his third term as president, and we had the historic election of Lana Payne as Secretary-Treasurer, the first woman in that position. Renaud Gagné and Naureen Rizvi were returned as Quebec Director and Ontario Regional Directors respectively, and we have new Regional Directors with Linda MacNeil in the Atlantic and Gavin McGarrigle in the West.
The regional directors play a vital role. While Unifor is a national union and many issues we face are national in nature, Canada is a big country with regional differences. Having regional directors and regional councils is one way we ensure that regional needs and wishes are heard and addressed.
Unifor represents workers in every sector of the economy, and each sector has a chance to meet during the Convention to discuss and debate issues particular to their industry. The Aviation Council, which will one day include WestJet, was among those meeting to discuss changes in the industry and how best to address them as workers. It’s just one way that Unifor gives you a voice in your industry, as well as in your workplace.
During the week, delegates voted on strategies for best addressing members’ needs at the bargaining table and in their communities. We approved a budget for the union – giving workers a voice in how their money is spent.
We heard from guest speakers, including Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement, members of Canada’s women’s hockey team, and Roméo Dallaire, who received Unifor’s Nelson Mandela Award in recognition of human rights and social justice work.
The convention is Unifor’s top decision-making body, but the engagement with members does not stop there. We hold meetings throughout the year, including regional meetings, conferences on specific issues such as Women’s issues, Pride, the Environment, Health and Safety and more, and sectoral conferences. Our British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec councils will meet this fall. Our Prairie and Atlantic councils meet every spring.
In Unifor you have a voice. Whether you want to speak on a national stage, or a regional stage, or focus your attention on issues concerned directly with your industry or a specific issue, there is a place in Unifor for you to make yourself heard.
We are a member-driven union. Our strength comes from members making their voices heard.
To be part of all that, and to gain a voice in your workplace and your fast-changing industry, sign a Unifor card – and encourage your friends to do the same.
Contact us! Talk to our organizing representatives! All calls are confidential.
Ontario
Billy O'Neill, Unifor
[email protected] | 416-605-1443
Quebec
Ada Zampini, Unifor
[email protected] | 514-701-6227
Prairies
Bruce Fafard, Unifor
[email protected] | 587-341-0945
British Columbia
Simon Lau, Unifor
[email protected] | 778-928-9630
Atlantic
Patrick Murray, Unifor
[email protected] | 506-850-7996
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