Messages from your President & Secretary-Treasurer
President Tosato’s Message – Fall 2025
A movement built on the everyday actions of labour advocates: We are stronger together.
Resolving the day-to-day issues you face as workers – whether a grievance, a health and safety hazard, or other concerns – is worker advocacy in action on the ground. Finding solutions to protect workers every day is at the core of what the Union does, and what the labour movement is about.
Those day-to-day actions add up. That’s how movements are built; little by little over time through the actions of many. And Labour Day is a chance to reflect on this work as a movement and to re-member our power as working people because we are stronger together.
The labour movement showed up together in a big way when Air Canada flight attendants, represented by CUPE, took to the picket lines this summer and defied Section 107 – back-to-work legislation –imposed by the federal government.
Why wasn’t the company in-stead forced back to the table by the government? Because, again and again, governments put corporations ahead of people; profit ahead of living wages; higher shares and stocks ahead of being able to afford the rising costs of living.
Time and time again, companies like Air Canada rely on government intervention.
In an interview on BNN Bloomberg, Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau was asked whether the company made any provisions ahead of time to assist customers in the event of a strike. Rousseau essentially said that the company was relying on the government to impose Section 107 of the Canadian Labour Code, which they assumed the Union wouldn’t defy.
Is that bargaining in good faith? We know back-to-work legislation for what it is: basic Union-busting and a blatant attempt to weaken the workers’ side of the dispute.
The government’s intervention is a clear violation of Charter- protected rights and an infringement on a most fundamental part of our Canadian democracy.
But the Union members did defy the order, and Air Cana-da relented. Those members stood their ground because labour united and had their back, and the two parties got back to the negotiating table, as it should be.
When the labour movement stands together, we are powerful.
I see that power every Labour Day, and this year was no different. The energy, strength, and resolve on display at events across the province is clear.
Whether it’s our more than 70,000 members here at Locals 175 & 633, or the millions of unionized workers across the country – we are a force to be reckoned with when we stand together.
Just like those day-to-day actions in the workplace, every attendee at every Labour Day event helps build that power and connection little by little, and I thank everyone who took the time to celebrate on September 1 this year.
In Solidarity,
Kelly Tosato
president@ufcw175.com
Secretary-Treasurer McLean’s Message – Fall 2025
Finding strength, resolve, and power in your Union membership and collective agreement
This summer has been difficult for a number of our members as some employers – most of which have been in their communities for many years – announced layoffs and closures. As a result, some of our members have lost their jobs or will be out of work by the end of the year.
About 50 members are losing their jobs as Wonderbrands in Sudbury ends its sliced bread production. Lactalis, also in Sudbury, is closing its plant-based manufacturing facility just a few years after receiving $1.4 million in funding to retool their plant. That decision will put 26 members out of work.
Ridgewood Industries in Cornwall, a long-time employer in that area, announced it will close its doors by year end, putting 250 union members out of work.
Minute Maid announced it will eliminate 38 unionized positions on the production line at its Peterborough facility later this year.
Members at Post Foods in Cobourg will lose their jobs by the end of the year as that plant closes as well. And Wolseley Canada members in Georgetown lost their jobs this past summer with that facility closure as well.
While a collective agreement can’t stop these changes, it can help see workers through these difficult circumstances where non-union workers may have no resources.
Very often, unionized workers can benefit from negotiated language that provides bumping rights, enhanced severance, layoff protocols, and more. And when closure announcements are made, the Union can reach out to an employer and often success-fully negotiate closure agreements to assist our members as best as possible.
The Union assists with things like setting up meetings with Service Canada so everyone understands their options and members can continue to access resources like the UFCW Canada WebCampus, which can provide opportunities to develop other skills that may help them going forward.
In some cases, the Union has taken employers to court over failure to pay owed wages, pensions, vacation, and more to members upon closure.
The Union is here to fight for our members through all of it.
Each of the communities noted here will feel the impact of these job losses. But it was reassuring, despite their circumstances, to see some of these very members out at Labour Day this year, showing that their Union membership, and the community of labour run deep for those members.
I hope every member of this Union enjoyed a wonderful Labour Day. Showing up to Labour Day, at a proposal or ratification meeting, at a protest – that’s where it starts. It’s how we, as a movement, continue to grow stronger, ready for the next challenge in the fight to build a province that looks after its workers.
I encourage you to visit ufcw175.com/unionmade and support products made by and services provided by members of this Union.
In Solidarity,
Jim McLean
treasurer@ufcw175.com