2008 will be a year of change & challenge

It is a time of change and new challenges for us in the trade union movement and certainly within Local 175.

Brother Shawn Haggerty, who is our new President, is a man of vision and dedication who is well-experienced within the UFCW and the labour movement.

Our membership reached approximately 50,000 under former President Hanley’s tenure. I will be working with Local 175 staff to maintain and even increase these numbers. Having a large, educated membership base enables us to negotiate better contracts for all and also to provide many other services, such as our extensive education program. Attracting new members into our Union is a necessity. For the past several years we have lost thousands of members due to plant closings and downsizings. Job loss in Ontario is yet another negative effect of participating in a global economy and it is a trend, sadly, that shows no sign of diminishing.

The Community Action Network committee, which was established two years ago by our Local Union, is an important initiative for involving both existing and potential new members in our diverse union. Brother Naveen Mehta has made presentations on Local 175’s Diversity strategy at Local Union seminars and conferences.

As the demographics of the Ontario workforce change, so does our membership. I know that both will become increasingly diverse, and include more young workers of various backgrounds, cultures and ethnic groups. Our success in attracting and involving these new members depends on our ability to welcome them to our Union. In the instance of newer immigrants, who may not have enjoyed Union rights in the past, it may also be necessary to educate them about the benefits of belonging to a good Union. I hope you will share your many positive Union experiences with your family and friends so that we can continue Ontario’s tradition of a strong Union culture, for the benefit of all.

In Solidarity Teresa Magee Secretary-Treasurer Local 175 UFCW Canada