The 33rd Annual National Defence Fund (NDF) Convention took place on July 8 and 9, 2019, in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Approximately 17,000 members of UFCW Locals 175 & 633 participate in the NDF. The National Defence Fund provides extra support to members on the picket line during strikes or lockouts.
Find more photos from this year’s convention on our Facebook page.
Delegates received a warm welcome and traditional greeting by Elder Thomas Christmas of the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre in Halifax and the Eagles’ Nest Recovery House in Indian Brook, Sipekne’katik First Nation, Nova Scotia. UFCW Local 864 President, Shauna Doyle, welcomed the members as well and thanked the staff of The Westin Nova Scotian, where the convention took place, for all of their hard work.
UFCW National President Paul Meinema addressed issues facing our Union and the labour movement across Canada. A recent announcement that UFCW will be representing Uber drivers in the Toronto area is one of the ways in which UFCW is working to assist employees of the Gig economy. Much of the Gig economy offers only part-time, precarious work often done through third-party employers.
The first morning of the National Defence Fund convention included two guest speakers as well.
Rick Smith from the Broadbent Institute spoke to the crowd about the dangers of the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) and its ongoing presence in our every day lives. Rick is working with UFCW, including UFCW Local 175 Health & Safety Representative Mary Shaw, and Environmental Defence Canada to increase awareness of BPA and its effects on the human body.
Dr. Christina Cloclough, from UNI Global Union, addressed the invasiveness of Big Data and the future of work around the world. She spoke about the importance of requiring corporations to use the data collected responsibly, and ensuring that the subjects whose data is collected also have access to that information.
In addition to National Defence Fund matters, the convention is also an opportunity for UFCW members within certain sectors to meet as well.
Over an afternoon and morning, members and staff from across Canada gathered in sector meetings to exchange ideas, and discuss industry trends and bargaining strategies. Delegates from UFCW Locals 175 & 633 took part in meetings for the hospitality, retail and service, flour milling, soft drink, and packinghouse sectors. In addition, an education-focused forum took place as well over the two-day conference. Members taking part in sector meetings got to hear presentations from industry experts including: James Ritchie, Assistant General Secretary of the International Union of Food Workers (IUF); Kurt Brandt, Assistant to the Director of the Food Processing, Packing, and Manufacturing Division at UFCW International; and Kevin Grier, President of KG Market Analysis and Consulting.
Thank you to the members who took part over the two-day National Defence Fund convention for your insight and dedication.
