On October 29, 2025, President Kelly Tosato along with 22 members and staff from UFCW Locals 175 & 633 and a total of 40 UFCW members from locals across the province including 1006A, 12R24 and the National Office, participated in the first Ontario UFCW Lobby Day in over a decade.
The goal of Lobby Day was to discuss and influence public policy and legislation, to advocate for members’ needs, raise awareness and improve workers’ rights in Ontario.
In more than 31 meetings, with Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) and Ministers, UFCW members raised awareness and provided solutions for:
Tackling the rising cost of living in Ontario.
Protecting workers from isolation, understaffing, and rising workplace violence.
Strengthening workers’ rights in Ontario with card check.
Certification & robust first contract arbitration.
Preserving democracy, workers’ rights, and indigenous sovereignty in Ontario, by repealing Bill 5.
The HOPE sector was represented with more than 12 members who raised issues specific to their sector including:
Funding inequities in primary and disability services.
The crisis in Ontario’s long-term and community health services.
Our members did an amazing job of sharing their unique perspectives and experiences to ensure that the MPPs were able to hear first-hand from the workers about the issues they are facing. Thank you to all of the members who participated.
