Unifor Constitutional Convention-August 24-29, 2025

Thank you for the membership for the privilege of allowing me to attend the convention.

On Sunday August 24th we attended health care council. We heard reports from the executive. The PSW registry was discussed and there will be more discussion on it at the Healthcare Conference in October. The leadership has the legal department reviewing the language in the Long-Term Care Act. We heard from Jim Stanford, former Senior Economist and Director of Policy for Unifor on the economic trends and bargaining in health care.

On Monday August 25th, the convention opened. The theme of the convention was Protect Canadian Jobs.  Lana Payne gave her address to the delegates that covered every sector in the Union. She talked about how more than 100 strikes over the last 3 years have been carried out and that Unifor continues to fight for members’ rights. She talked about how the Union, and its members will have to pushback to protect Canadian jobs because of Trumps tariffs. The sisters attended the Womens Caucus at lunch where we heard the great work that Women’s committees are doing coast to coast. We also learned that Peggy Nash and Julie White have written a book called Women United- Stories of Women’s Struggles for Equality in the Canadian Auto Workers Union. It is available for pre order.

Len Poirier gave the delegates his financial report to the delegates. The Union has donated $400 thousand to women’s shelters and $820 thousand to food banks across Canada.  We heard from guest speaker Stephen Cotton, who is the general secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation who spoke about the work Unifor leadership have accomplished by supporting the Safe Rates Campaign for truck drivers and couriers, improving working conditions and fighting against privatization.

On Tuesday, we heard reports from the Quebec, Western, Atlantic and Ontario Directors. Nominations of the Executive Officers and Regional Directors took place. There were 3 nominations for Ontario Director and 2 nominations for President. All the other positions were acclaimed. There was a tribute to Buzz Hargrove, former CAW President who passed away in August.

On Wednesday, there was a recognition of striking workers and the Organizing Report. At 2pm there was an election. Lana Payne won her election against Rodney McGill by 89.97 percent to 10.03 percent. Samia Hashi won her election, getting 65.95 percent of the vote over Donovan Nezbeth- 18.17 percent and Maryellen McIlmoyle- 15.88 percent. Michael Caine, National Secretary of the Transport Workers’ Union of Australia, spoke about the global fight transport and logistics workers are leading. He talked about the fight and struggles of Australian workers are the same as Canadian workers and when unions globally fight together everyone is stronger.

On Thursday, there was a Protect Canadian Jobs rally prior to lunch and then a Protect Canadian Jobs Panel after lunch. The panel included CUPE, FTQ and Hassan Yussuff, former Unifor staff member and CLC President. Unifor members at the Diageo Plant in Amherstburg found out that the Crown Royal facility will close in February 2026 and that 170 members will lose their job. The union was not spoken to about this and instead heard it publicly. Unifor is prepared to fight for these jobs that are long standing in that community.

On Friday, the Public Review Board report was mentioned, and the Report of the Ethics Commissioner was given before adjournment.

Throughout the convention, there were 101 Constitutional Amendments put forward and 19 Resolutions that were all dealt with! Delegates voted on each amendment using voting machines. There were several debates, and the one notable one was the ability for delegates to vote for their own Regional Director. The committee recommended non-concurrence, which means they did not agree with the proposed amendment. On August 27th, the vote was yes-41.54 percent and no 58.46 percent. There was not 50 percent plus one to agree with non-concurrence, so it was sent back to the committee. On August 28th, the amendment was brought forward again and this time the delegates voted for non-concurrence by a vote of 53.97 percent to 46.03 percent.
All the proposed amendments and resolutions can be found on Unifor.org.

Respectfully submitted,

Michelle Flewin

Constitutional Convention 
August 2025 

Sunday August 24th- Industry council,

We attended the health care council. The financial and other reports were given.  There was some talk of the PSW registry. We were informed that Unifor's legal department is looking into the legalities surrounding the registry and hope to have more information at the health care conference in Oct.  We heard from Jim Stanford regarding the economy and bargaining in health care. We also heard from a speaker regarding BC nurses' push for safe staffing ratios and their success in doing so. Towards the end of the meeting we heard from those running for positions at the convention. 

Monday August 25th 
The convention opened with roughly 897 delegates representing 298 locals. There were also a number of people attending on special delegate status, Unifor staff and guests. Lana Payne, National President, addressed the convention. She spoke of the events of the past 3 years, and the continuing fight we as a Union have. There was a Women's caucus lunch. Following lunch Len Poirier gave his financial report for the national union.  We heard from  guest speaker, Stephen Cotton, the  General Secretary of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), a global union federation of 740 trade unions. We then moved on to voting on the constitutional amendments submitted in advance. There were 65 submitted by the NEB and 35 submitted by various locals. The constitutional amendments ranged from  simple ( grammatical changes) to more complex ( changes in how voting is done , strike pay etc) 

Tuesday Aug 26th 
We heard reports from the Quebec director , as well as the regional directors.  The Nelson Mandela Award was given to  Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS) in recognition of media workers’ dangerous and unrelenting coverage of the conflict in Gaza.  At lunch regional caucuses were held where nomination for regional directors occurred. There were 3 nominated from the Ontario region Samia Hashi, Donovan Nezbeth and Maryellen Mcllmoyle.  Following Lunch was the nomination of Officers and directors in the main hall. Nominated for President was Lana Payne and Rodney McGill, Len Poirier was acclaimed for Secretary Treasurer, Daniel  Cloutier Quebec director, Gavin McGarrigle Western Jennifer Murray were also acclaimed. The vote for President and Ontario regional director would take place the following day. 

We then returned to voting on the constitutional amendments. There were some spicy but healthy debates on a number of changes. To wrap up the day there was a special tribute to brother Buzz Hargrove, former president of CAW who recently passed away. 

Wednesday Aug 27th
The Neil Reimer award was given. The 2025 award was given to Tanya Talaga an Indigenous journalist, author and Unifor member. Following the award we had a recognition of striking workers, an organizing report and welcome to new members of Unifor.  Post lunch the vote for President and Ontario Regional director was held. With Lana Payne and Samina Hashi  successful in their campaigns.  We heard from guest speaker Michael Kaine and ended the day with more voting for constitutional amendments. 

Thursday Aug 28th 
The Bud Jimmerfield Award was announced and this year's recipient was Rob Giroux from local 1119. There was a Protect Canadian Jobs rally and Panel held
Followed up with a ton of Voting on constitutional amendments. 

Friday Aug 29th 
A Report was heard from the Ethics Commissioner and the public review board. 
Leading into the conclusion of voting on constitutional amendments and wrapping up the conference. 

Respectfully Submitted,

Amy Cake