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Labour unity is the order of the day at the OFL convention where 1,000 delegates unanimously chose their new leadership team today.
High-profile and longtime labour leader Sid Ryan is the president-elect, replacing Wayne Samuelson who, after 12 years in office, decided not to seek re-election.
“This is a talented and dedicated team,” says [...]

irene harris, labour movement, marie kelly, ofl, ontariolabour, Samuelson, sid ryan, terry downey Hide

CLC executive vice-president Barb Byers talks about economic loss for women, Aboriginal workers, workers of colour, and workers with disability. And now, the public sector is under attack.

aboriginal, equity, labour movement, ontariolabour, racialized, visible minority, women, workers of colour, youth Hide

It wasn’t really a debate, since no one spoke against the resolution. But it was a lively half hour of commentary that grabbed the attention of the convention.
Delegates were being asked to support a resolution to put a stop to internal conflicts, and they did. It directs the OFL and leaders of affiliated unions [...]

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The OFL’s Youth Booster Award goes this year to Debora De Angelis, a union activist who was a founding member of the OFL Youth Committee in 1997. Then a member of UNITE, DeAngelis is now a training and education representative for UFCW Canada.
De Angelis received the award for her initiative, enthusiasm and “never-take-no-for-an-answer” attitude, said [...]

labour movement, ontariolabour, unions, youth Hide

Unions have to keep defending workers’ rights and elect political leaders who will do the same, CLC executive vice-president Barb Byers told delegates this morning.
As job losses continue to mount, and private sector workers struggle with unemployment and lost pensions, corporate leaders “are setting their sights” on the public sector.
“If they can silence us, they [...]

aboriginal, economic crisis, equity, Human rights, labour movement, ontariolabour, Pensions, racialized, unionization, unions, visible minority, women, workers of colour Hide

Outgoing OFL President Wayne Samuelson says the federal and provincial governments have dropped the ball regarding the protection of workers’ pensions. Working men and women deferred their wages in return for a decent defined pension plan, he said. Government had a responsibility to regulate and ensure that employers invested those deferred wages into pension plans, [...]

labour movement, ontariolabour, Pensions Hide

In his parting address to convention delegates, OFL president Wayne Samuelson focused on the economic crisis, unresponsive governments, and the pressing need for the labour movement to lead working people to better days.
Business and government leaders are blaming the crisis for fallout that’s actually caused by their own actions, and using it as an excuse [...]

economic crisis, labour movement, Pensions, public services, Samuelson, unions Hide