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In this Edition:
The Journey Podcast with special guest Manitoba Premier, Wab Kinew
The Spotlight: Warehouse Workers Unite!
Inspiration and Wisdom from Marshall Ganz
Organizing WINS in 2024
Look Who’s Joined:
(New members over the last 3 months)
Willow Stream Spa – Victoria, BC
Lulumco Inc. - Ste-Luce, QC
Walmart Canada Logistics ULC – Mississauga, ON
Porter Airlines – Halifax, NS
Nuance Group (Pearson Airport) – Mississauga, ON
Park Avenue Volvo – Brossard, QC
Coop Ethanol Complex – Belle Plains, SK
Ville de Matane – Matane, QC
Bell Media, Traffic, Agincourt – Toronto, ON
Bear Creek Terrace Long Term Care – Petrolia, ON
Laboratoire Omega Limitee – QC
Magasin Pierre Marcotte Inc. (Canadian Tire) – Shawinigan, QC
Flex N Gate – Beaverton, ON
Walmart Fleet ULC – Surrey, BC
Complexe de l’auto Park Avenue Inc. (Park Avenue Honda) – Brossard, QC
The Journey Podcast – Episode #3:
We’re thrilled to welcome the Honorable Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba and the first Indigenous Premier of the province. Wab brings a fresh perspective to Canadian politics, drawing on his background in media and activism. We'll dive into his journey and get a closer look at his vision for Manitoba’s future, including how he plans to make it easier for workers to join a union. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Join us as we take an in-depth look at the evolving political landscape in Canada.
Spotlight: Warehouse Workers Unite!
by: Angela Drew Kimelman, Unifor Organizer
This is a question I’ve been asked a lot recently, “How do you organize one of the most anti-union organizations in North America?”
And the answer is “it wasn’t simple.”
- We built a strong inside committee that stood up to management & fought for what they deserve.
- We gave workers the facts to counteract the company’s lies & strong anti-union tactics.
- We educated workers on their rights & labour laws.
- Solidarity and worker power will always win.
This is the story of how Unifor organized the Walmart warehouse in Mississauga, Ontario. I get chills every time I tell this story because it’s a story of perseverance and the power of worker solidarity.
The Walmart campaign started with one phone call from a worker interested in information about joining Unifor. 10 months later the Walmart warehouse was voting to join our union. Our goal the whole campaign was to get these workers to a vote so they could finally have their say.
Workers lived in fear the entire campaign. Fighting the relentless push back from management. In fact, many workers told us they would vote ‘Yes’ to join Unifor if it came to the vote. They were very afraid to sign their union cards for fear the employer would find out, despite telling workers multiple times about the cards being 100% confidential.
Walmart’s anti-union tactics ranged from spreading lies about union dues, to intimidating workers one-on-one. This is a very aggressive employer.
“Team Red” was formed in early April 2024. This team of courageous workers created this employee organizing committee and started wearing Unifor red gear in the warehouse. They became the faces of the union in the warehouse.
Team Red initiated “Red Shirt Wednesday” so others could participate and show their support for the union. This single action of solidarity showed other workers that they had no fear. These workers knew their rights. They had every right to campaign during their paid and un-paid breaks and before or after their shifts.
Team Red participated in our leaflet drops and fought back the intimidation of management. When the inside committee was handing out leaflets, I never saw bigger smiles from the workers. Workers would honk their horns, cheer and wave their red shirts as they drove by and took the information from their co-workers. This was HUGE for moving the campaign forward. Signed union cards started to come in quickly.
On September 10th, 2024, we held a huge rally outside the Walmart warehouse to show solidarity with the workers as they kicked off their official vote with the Ontario Labour Relations Board. Close to 100 Unifor members from locals all over Ontario joined the organizing department and Team Red, waving flags to cheer on the workers. 72 hours later, the Labour Board announced that the workers voted in favour of joining Unifor.
We informed the members of the inside crew first and there were a lot of tears shed as we all knew the hard work that was put into this campaign. These workers worked so hard to get this done. Finally, they were members of Unifor and gained a voice in the workplace. What an incredible journey.
These workers made history and became the first Walmart warehouse in Canada to unionize!
Organizing Framework from Marshall Ganz:
by: Jessica Ridgewell & John MacDonald, Unifor Organizing Coordinators
We recently attended Marshall Ganz's new book launch. He highlighted that building resilient communities depends on developing leaders who can respond to opportunities when they arise. Ganz reminds us that it's possible to build a model for sustainable organizing grounded in inclusivity, empathy, and structure within a campaign and group.
Marshall Ganz outlined three primary outcomes when organizing:
To Win – Achieving immediate goals.
To Come Out Stronger – Building on accomplishments to create lasting momentum, while developing leaders.
To Develop More Leadership – Fostering leadership at all levels, where roles are clearly defined, and each person's strengths are matched to their responsibilities.
Ganz emphasized that leadership isn’t just about one person; it’s about group leadership. Clear roles, defined responsibilities, and skill-based task matching create an environment where everyone’s contributions are vital to achieving collective goals. Ganz's approach provided a framework for effective leadership development.
Relationship Building as Transactional: Ganz underscores that strong relationships in organizing come from seeing each other as individuals, with mutual respect and commitment. By investing in relationships, we master the politics of democracy and create a foundation for future collaboration and solidarity, giving depth to the organizing journey.
Storytelling: Stories are how we pass on what we know, challenge fears, and inspire action. Be vulnerable, be courageous, talk about who you are! Know the resources that are valuable and available. Share the stories of hope that are critical in union organizing. Show that together, workers can overcome challenges and create change.
Strategy: Success requires a clear and adaptable plan. Strategy helps organizers define steps to achieve their goals, making campaigns cohesive and purpose driven.
Action: Actions are the steps that bring strategy to life, and each one, large or small, builds the path toward broader objectives.
Structuring: Ganz highlighted the need to build systems for collaboration. A structured campaign—with clear processes, defined roles, and teamwork—empowers organizers and members alike to work effectively toward shared goals.
Adopting Ganz’s model means creating an organizing environment that is resilient, people-centered and driven by clear structure and shared values. Unifor can cultivate leaders who not only help win campaigns but also contribute to a sustainable, inclusive, and empowered labour movement.
A Year of Growth and Tenacity: 2024 in Review
As 2024 comes to a close, I want to extend my gratitude to all of you who have participated in our organizing journey this year. It’s been a remarkable year for Unifor’s Organizing Department—one marked by new initiatives, strengthened campaigns, and a growing movement that reflects our commitment to lifting up the working class and ensuring their voices are heard in their workplaces.
Groundbreaking Campaigns
This year, we took bold strides that resulted in historic victories at the Walmart distribution center in Mississauga, ON, and the F&P manufacturing plant in Tottenham, ON. Each of these campaigns involved over 800 workers each who bravely stood up to their employers, countering anti-union tactics with positivity and resilience. These wins mark Unifor’s first organizing victory at Walmart and a long-fought, rewarding victory at F&P—proving the value of sustained commitment to supporting workers.
In the same spirit, our organizing efforts expanded across the country. We are standing strong with Amazon workers in Delta, BC, whose case heads to a hearing early in the New Year. This year also brought new members in Alberta, BC, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. Highlights include 36 workers at Co-op Ethanol in Belle Plaine, SK, 88 at the Lulumco Sawmill in Ste-Luce, QC, and over 100 at Flex-N-Gate in Beaverton, ON.
Looking Ahead to 2025
The foundation we secured in 2024 will drive us toward even greater success in 2025. Every campaign, every conversation, and every victory strengthen our resolve and gives workers hope for the collective agreement and the working conditions they deserve. Together, we are unstoppable. Here’s to another year of solidarity and success!
In solidarity,
Justin Gniposky
Director of Organizing
Share your Organizing Story on social media!
#UniforOrganizing #UniforS’organiser
#UniforWeWon #GagnezAvecUnifor
If you have a question or if you have something you would like to see in an upcoming edition of The Red Flag, please send a message to @email
