This year’s Delegates’ Council meeting was a special one. The Society is celebrating 80 years representing and advocating for workers. Since 1944, we have been fighting to ensure that workers who were previously excluded from unionizing got the representation that they deserve.
To honour our past, the Society brought in key figures from our history. There was a 80th anniversary panel featuring past-Presidents Chris Cragg, Fay Greenholtz, and Scott Travers, and past-Hydro One LVP Keith Rattai. The panel reflected on the fights that were won to get our union to where it is today, and gave important insights into how we will continue to grow and evolve to meet tomorrow’s challenges.
Outgoing Society President Michelle Johnston delivered her final address to Council Delegates. In her speech Michelle reflected on the many victories that we have seen during her tenure as President, and presented a vision of the path ahead. Members can watch Michelle’s final address here.
Delegates were joined by IFPTE President Matt Biggs and Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson, Onatio Federation of Labour President Laura Walton, and Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske who all brought greetings and congratulations on the milestone anniversary. We were also joined by lawyer Michael Wright, who gave the assembly an update on key legal matters that affect the Society’s membership.
As always with Council, there was routine Society business to attend to. Delegates debated and voted on bylaw changes, including changes to PO compensation, bargaining principles, and the union’s strategic plan. Additionally, as part of the union’s Principal Officer election process, Delegates were treated to lively all-candidates’ debate. Each of the candidates running for office gave a good representation of their proposals and positions. The Society is grateful to each of the candidates who put their names forward in our union’s democratic process.
This year’s Council represented the turning of a page. We celebrated our proud history, said goodbye to Michelle Johnston, and turned our sights to the future. Our union is better positioned than ever to capitalize on the many opportunities that we see in the energy and legal sectors.
