In 2008, we will continue to build on current success, expand into new areas of importance and focus on priorities.

It is with great pride that I accept the position of President of this great Local Union.

Local 175 has always had the welldeserved reputation of being one of the best – many would say the very best – Local Union in the Labour movement. I plan to continue this proud record of achievement and service to all our members. I along with our staff will continue to dedicate ourselves to bettering the lives of the members of both Locals 175 & 633. While Local 633 is a separate Local Union with its own officers, Local 175 officers and staff also serve Local 633 members through a servicing agreement.

In 2008, and the years beyond, I look forward to working with all staff and members to achieve the very best collective agreements in the Province of Ontario. My priorities for the upcoming year are to build on existing strengths and to expand and focus in specific areas.

The Local Union enjoys a solid financial base to fund its many programs. Over the past few years, we have invested heavily in Training & Education for both members and staff. Local 175 staff are, without doubt, the best trained in the province and they are dedicated to serving the membership. We will continue to build on these strengths.

We plan to expand the role of the Community Action Network (CAN), to reach out to more groups and become involved in more events. At the same time, we will encourage members to link their diverse community organizations with the work of the CAN Committee.

The high Canadian dollar has created difficulties for many of our employers and for members as a result. We will continue to dedicate resources to Adjustment Programs and Action Centres so that members affected by these layoffs are able to access relevant training, develop job search strategies and ultimately find suitable new employment.

As companies continue with layoffs and downsizings, it becomes In 2008, we will continue to build on current success, expand into new areas of importance and focus on priorities even more important to strengthen our Organizing efforts to bring new members into our Union. We are making good progress by coordinating our Organizing efforts province-wide. We are continuing to focus on our core industries, particularly with non-union retail chains like Sobeys and Wal-Mart. Health Care is also a key sector for us. We plan to increase our involvement in Health Care and strengthen the units we have now.

Across the board, we want to be more systematic in researching collective agreements and be more innovative in introducing contract improvements. Our goal is to achieve the best contracts for all members. To do this, both Union reps and members need to know what is available and achievable, in their industry and across the country, and within the various sectors as well. This strategy will mean that our Union Negotiating Committees will be in a stronger bargaining position when they sit down with the employer representatives to hammer out new collective agreements.

Health & Safety will continue to be an essential priority. Our H&S representative, Janice Klenot will be doing even more work with committees representing our numerous workplaces. We know the H&S training we do is very important in reducing accidents and injuries and saving lives. It makes sense to invest in H&S training. More than 70 percent of our members who have taken training courses continue to be active on their workplace Joint Health & Safety Committees.

Political Action is yet another area where we need to focus our energy. For instance, many Local 175 members will not benefit from the new Ontario statutory holiday – Family Day – which was implemented after the 2007 election campaign. This extra holiday generally only covers those employees who now have only the barest minimum under the Employment Standards Act. We need to take action to ensure that the government treats our members with the respect they deserve.

Similarly, there is no good reason why only the construction industry in Ontario is permitted to form a Union in their workplaces on the basis of a cardcheck certification process. All of Ontario’s workers should have the right to join a Union when a majority sign Union cards. The requirement to hold a vote in a workplace, once a majority has signed cards, is undemocratic in that it enables employers to harass, intimidate and threaten.

We will have staff representatives participating in various committees, such as Political Action and H&S through the UFCW National Council. This will enable us to combine the strength and knowledge of UFCW Locals from across the country and I believe to be more effective in what we do as a result.

I am looking forward to speaking to and meeting with many of you over the course of the next year.

In Solidarity, Shawn Haggerty President Local 175 UFCW Canada

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