Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, has wrapped up its constitutional convention, which was held in Vancouver from August 25-29.
Top of the agenda was US President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada which represents an unprecedented attack on Canadian workers.
The union wants to see a broad, Canada first, industrial strategy aimed at moving the economy away from dependence on the US.
“In this trade war, there is us and there is them. It’s no more complicated than that,” said Unifor president Lana Payne. “To those who think they can shift our jobs and our plants to the United States. To those who think they can govern this country and allow that to happen. You will have to go through us first.”
Earlier this year, Unifor launched its Protect Canadian Jobs campaign, which includes a list of goals to ensure economic independence from the US. Unifor is calling on the federal government to do things like penalize companies that move Canadian jobs to the US, focusing on federal contracts with Canadian companies, banning foreign ownership of critical minerals and more.
Payne re-elected National President
Lana Payne was re-elected as Unifor’s national president on the third day of the convention along with the rest of the union’s executive team.
“It’s been an honour and a great privilege to be your National President. My honour today has grown three-fold,” Payne said in her acceptance speech. “We have workers to defend, jobs to protect and a country and economy to get on track. And this country needs us. Canada needs this union. It needs the progressive force that we are.”
This will be Payne’s second term as national president. In 2022, Payne made history by becoming the first woman to be elected to the position.
READ MORE: Lana Payne elected as new National President of Unifor
Also re-elected at the convention were National Secretary-Treasurer Len Poirier, Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle, Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi, and Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray set to resume their duties. Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier was re-elected unopposed at Unifor’s Quebec Council earlier this year. This is Cloutier’s second term as Quebec Director.
Standing with Palestine and remembering a labour legend
On the second day of the convention, Unifor recognized the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS) with its highest honour, the Nelson Mandela Award.
The award was given in recognition of the courageous work of Palestinian journalists in covering the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which has also seen the targeting of journalists by Israel, an act condemned by the UN earlier this summer.
“So far, we lost 246 journalists in occupation, killed in Gaza,” said PJS President Naser Abubaker. “I feel hope because we are feeling not alone because of your solidarity.”
The convention and delegates also took time to recognize the life and accomplishments of labour leader Buzz Hargrove, who passed away earlier this year on June 15 at the age of 81.
Hargrove served as president of the Canadian Autoworkers Union (CAW) from 1992 to 2008. CAW is one of the unions that helped form Unifor in 2012. He also played a key role in the creation of the CAW when it split from its US counterpart in 1985.
Hargrove was a committed social unionist who, beyond advocating for better wages and conditions for his fellow union members, also tackled broader social issues like public health care, retirement security, equity, and fair trade.
“Buzz Hargrove was a towering figure in Canadian labour—a leader whose strength, conviction, and unwavering commitment to social justice helped shape the union we are today,” said Payne at the convention.
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
