The Ontario Federation of Labour represents workers belonging to more than 1,500 local unions from 54 affiliated unions, making it Canada’s largest provincial labour federation. The OFL’s strong membership and militancy makes it a formidable political voice. The OFL holds a convention every other year in November so that members can meet to discuss and debate issues affecting workers in Ontario.  Unifor Local 199 elects Delegates to attend this convention which is held in Toronto.

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) is the province’s “house of labour” and serves as an umbrella group for working people and their unions. The OFL pushes for legislative change in every area that affects people’s daily lives, including health, education, workplace safety, minimum wage and other employment standards, human rights, women’s rights, workers’ compensation, and pensions. It also makes regular presentations and submissions to the Ontario government and mounts internal and public awareness campaigns to mobilize the kind of political pressure that secures positive change for all workers – whether or not they belong to a union. In order to accomplish these goals, the OFL works with affiliated local unions and labour councils in local and regional areas across the province, but perhaps most importantly, the OFL proudly partners with other community and social justice organizations to build a strong economy and inclusive society that meets everyone’s needs.

I attended the 2015 convention, click on the following link to see images and commentary from the convention. Monday Opening Day,

Following is a list of OFL publications which show the diversity of the issues the OFL takes on.  All the files in the OFL’s Library are available as Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Files (PDFs) which require Adobe Acrobat Reader to be read. If you do not have Acrobat, you can download it free from Adobe’s website.

All Publications

2016

• OFL Action Report – 2016.06.23
• OFL Submission on Proposed Changes Relating to Hazardous Substances (Jun. 2016)
• OFL Action Report – 2016.04.21
• In Memoriam: Jim Freeman (March 17, 1955 – April 4, 2016)
• OFL Submission on Bill 163 (Supporting Ontario’s First Responders Act) (Mar. 2016)
• OFL Action Report – 2016.02.04
• Submission – Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Pre-Budget Consultations (Feb 2015)
• Submission to the Ontario Ombuds Office: Complaint Against WSIB (Jan. 2016)
• OFL Submission on Bill 132 (Sexual Violence, Sexual Harassment, Domestic Violence) (Jan. 2016)
• OFL Submission to the Ontario “Gender Wage Gap Strategy” (Jan. 2016)

2015

• Daily Report – Friday (OFL Convention 2015)
• Daily Report – Thursday (OFL Convention 2015)
• Daily Report – Wednesday (OFL Convention 2015)
• Daily Report – Tuesday (OFL Convention 2015)
• Daily Report – Monday (OFL Convention 2015)
• Delegate’s Guide (OFL 2015 Convention)
• Convention Report (OFL Convention 2015)
• Women’s Report (OFL Convention 2015)
• Human Rights Report (OFL Convention 2015)
• Young Workers’ Report (OFL Convention 2015)
• Health & Safety/Workers’ Compensation Report (OFL Convention 2015)
• Plan d’action 2015 de la FTO (Congrès 2015 de la FTO)
• 2015 Action Plan (OFL Convention 2015)
• Convention Agenda (OFL Convention 2015)
• Policy Resolutions (OFL Convention 2015)
• Report – Prescription Over-Ruled: Report on How Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Systematically Ignores the Advice of Medical Professionals (Nov. 2015)
• OFL Submission to the “WSIB Rate Framework Review” (Oct. 2015)
• OFL Final Submission to the Ontario “Changing Workplaces Review” (Sept. 2015)
• OFL President’s Report – 2015.09.29
• OFL President’s Report – 2015.06.17
• OFL Preliminary Submission to the Ontario “Changing Workplaces Review” (June 2015)
• 2015 OFL/AIL Labour Post-Secondary Scholarships Package
• OFL Submission on Sexual Violence (May 2015)
• Briefing Note – Keep Hydro Public (May 2015)
• Briefing Note – Retirement Security (May 2015)
• Briefing Note – Labour Law Reform (May 2015)
• OFL Submission on Bill 91, Building Ontario Up Act (Budget Measures), 2015 (Mar. 2015)
• OFL President’s Report – 2015.04.14
• Resource – SolidariTweet: Les médias sociaux au service des activistes syndicaux (fev 2015)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Pre-Budget Consultations (Feb 2015)
• End Retirement Insecurity: OFL Submission on the ORPP (Feb. 2015)
• Resource – SolidariTweet: Social Media for Labour Activists (Jan. 2015)
• OFL President’s Report – 2015.02.03

2014

• Report – Rewarding Offenders: How Ontario’s Workplace Safety System Rewards Employers Despite Workplace Deaths & Injuries (Nov. 2014)
• OFL President’s Report – 2014.10.07
• Peoples’ Social Forum Leaflet
• Submission to the Mining Health, Safety and Prevention Review
• Comments to the Ministry of Labour: Proposed Guideline for determining who is a Supervisor under the Occupational Health and Safety Act
• OFL President’s Report – 2014.06.16
• OFL President’s Report – 2014.04.15
• Submission – Youth Unemployment and Underemployment (Feb 2014)
• OFL President’s Report – 2014.02.11
• Submission – Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Pre-Budget Consultations (Jan 2014)
• Materials – Our Rights at Work – Member to Member Handout (Half Page)
• Materials – Our Rights at Work – Member to Member Handout (Full Page)
• Materials – Our Rights at Work – 5 Step Guide

2013

• Convention Report: Young Workers (Convention 2013)
• Convention Report: Women’s Issues (Convention 2013)
• Convention Report: Human Rights (Convention 2013)
• Convention Report: Health & Safety / WCB (Convention 2013)
• Rising Together! OFL Action Plan – 2013.11.25
• Rising Together! OFL Convention Report – 2013.11.25
• Resource – SolidariTweet: Social Media for Social Change (Nov. 2013)
• Submission – Ontario Minimum Wage Advisory Panel (Sep. 2013)
• OFL President’s Report – 2013.09.17
• Working for Less – Fact Sheets (Feb. 2013)
• Working for Less: The Coming Threat to Union Security in Ontario (Feb. 2013)
• Submission – Labour Without Borders: Towards a Migrant Workers’ Bill of Rights (Aug. 2013)
• OFL President’s Report – 2013.06.17
• Submission – Ministry of Labour: An Integrated Occupational Health and Safety Strategy (May 2013)
• Fact Sheet – Why We Need a Day of Mourning (April 2013)
• A People’s Budget – Towards a Fair Ontario: OFL White Paper (Apr. 2013)
• OFL President’s Report – 2013.04.09
• Sister to Sister: OFL Women’s Summit Report (Apr. 2013)
• Report: Ontario Common Front (Apr. 2013)
• In Memoriam: Peter Kormos (July 27, 1952 – March 30, 2013)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Pre-Budget Consultations (March 2013)
• Toward a People’s Budget: OFL Green Paper (Feb. 2013)
• The Rising of Us All: Responding to the Attack on Ontario’s Unions (Feb. 2013)
• OFL President’s Report – 2013.01.29

2012

• In Memoriam: Cliff Pilkey (July 27, 1922 – November 17, 2012)
• Pulling Up The Ladder: Austerity’s Impact on the Next Generation (Nov. 2012)
• OFL President’s Report – 2012.10.02
• Falling Behind – Factsheets (Aug. 2012)
• Fact Sheets – Falling Behind: Ontario Common Front fact sheets on inequality (Aug. 2012)
• Report – Falling Behind: Ontario Common Front Report on Inequality (Aug. 2012)
• Falling Behind: Ontario’s Backslide into Widening Inequality, Growing Poverty and Cuts to Social Programs (Aug. 2012)
• OFL President’s Report – 2012.06.18
• OFL President’s Action Update – 2012.05.15
• Fact Sheet – Why We Need a Day of Mourning (April 2012)
• OFL President’s Action Update – 2012.04.12
• OFL President’s Report – 2012.04.02
• Submission: Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Pre-Budget Consultations (March 2012)
• OFL President’s Report – 2012.01.30
• Submission – Peel Region Council: Proposal to Close Child Care Centres (Jan. 2012)
• OFL President’s Action Update – 2012.01.16
• OFL Member & Community Service Policy (Jan. 2012)

2011

• OFL Convention Report – 2011.11.21
• Policy Paper: Le pouvoir de la diversité au XXIe siécle (Convention 2011)
• Policy Paper: Prévention, protection, rémunération pour la chaine génération (Convention 2011)
• Policy Paper: La sécurité du revenu du retraite et la lutte pour l’avenir (Convention 2011)
• Policy Paper: Vers un front commun contre l’austerité (Convention 2011)
• Policy Paper: The Power of Diversity in the 21st Century (Convention 2011)
• Policy Paper: Prevent, Protect, Compensate for the Next Generation (Convention 2011)
• Policy Paper: Retirement Security and the Fight for the Future (Convention 2011)
• Policy Paper: Toward a Common Front Against Austerity (Convention 2011)
• OFL President’s Report – 2011.09.12
• Submission – Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario (Sep. 2011)
• Submission – Ontario Premier: Review of Ontario’s Human Rights Code (Aug. 2011)
• OFL President’s Report – 2011.06.07
• Fact Sheet – Why We Need a Day of Mourning (April 2011)
• OFL President’s Action Update – 2011.04.27
• Submission – WSIB: Funding Review (Apr. 2011)
• OFL President’s Report – 2011.04.11
• OFL President’s Report – 2011.02.02
• Submission – Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Pre-Budget Consultations (Jan. 2011)
• OFL President’s Action Update – 2011.01.21

2010

• OFL President’s Action Update – 2010.12.13
• Submission – Ontario College of Trades: Transition Board Apprenticeship Ratios (Nov. 2010)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Pensions Benefits Act (Nov. 2010)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Social Policy: The Broader Public Sector Accountability Act 2010 (Nov. 2011)
• Fact Sheet – Top Ten Pay Equity Compliance Myths (Sept. 2010)
• Fact Sheet – Overview of the Pay Equity Act (Sep. 2010)
• Resource – A Trade Union Pay Equity Act Compliance Checklist (Jan. 2010)
• Fact Sheet – Trade Union Guide to Enforcing Pay Equity (Sep. 2010)
• OFL President’s Report – 2010.09.27
• OFL President’s Action Update – 2010.06.25
• OFL President’s Action Update – 2010.05.20
• OFL President’s Action Update – 2010.05.03
• OFL President’s Action Update – 2010.04.20
• OFL President’s Action Update – 2010.02.04
• Submission – Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Pre-Budget Consultations (Feb. 2010)
• Fact Sheets – Mesures d’adaptation (Jan. 2010)
• Fact Sheets – Labour Adjustment (Jan. 2010)
• Fact Sheets – Climb the Hill: Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (Jan. 2010)

2009

• OFL President’s Action Update – 2009.12.15
• Policy Paper: Rights (2009 Convention)
• Policy Paper: Public Services (Convention 2009)
• Policy Paper: Good Jobs (Convention 2009)
• Fact Sheets – Apprenticeship: Jobs, Skills and Expertise for Life (Oct. 2009)
• Fact Sheets – Apprentissage: Emplois, competences et expertise pour la vie (Oct. 2009)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Justice Policy: Ontario College of Trades (Sep. 2009)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Labour: Occupational Exposure Limits (Sep. 2009)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Labour: Foreign and Resident Employment Recruitment in Ontario (Aug. 2009)
• Submission – Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly: Temporary Help Agencies (Mar. 2009)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Pre-Budget Consultations (Mar. 2009)
• Submission – The Standing Committee on Government Agencies: Ontario Human Rights Tribunal (February 2009)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Finance: Report of the Expert Commission on Pensions (Feb. 2009)

2008

• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Labour: Consultation Paper on Workplace Violence Prevention (Oct. 2008)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of the Environment: Creating Ontario’s Toxics Reduction Strategy (Oct. 2008)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Government Agencies: Infrastructure Ontario Agency Review (Sep. 2008)
• Report – The Duty to Accommodate in the Canadian Workplace (Mar. 2008)
• Submission – Ontario Human Rights Commission: Mental Health Discrimination and Police Record Checks (Apr. 2008)
• Fact Sheet – Why We Need a Day of Mourning (Mar. 2008)
• Resource – Legal Opinion on Pay Equity Rights and Obligations (Feb. 2008)
• Resource – Bargaining Agent Pay Equity Checklist (Feb. 2008)
• Fact Sheet – Want the Straight Goods on Unions? (Jan. 2008)
• Fact Sheet – Canada’s Workers at Risk: Precarious Employment (Jan. 2008)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities: Compulsory Certification Review (Jan. 2008)
• Fact Sheet – Why Do I Need a Union? (Jan. 2008)
• Fact Sheet – Union Advantage by the Numbers (Jan. 2008)
• Fact Sheet – Unions: Working Towards Women-Friendly Workplaces (Jan. 2008)
• Fact Sheet – Women and Unions: The Benefits (Jan. 2008)

2007

• Policy Paper – Rights (Convention 2007)
• Policy Paper – Public Services (Convention 2007)
• Policy Paper – Droits (Convention 2007)
• Policy Paper – Lutter pour protéger les bons emplois (Convention 2007)
• Policy Paper – Services publiques (Convention 2007)
• Policy Paper – The Fight for Good Jobs (Convention 2007)
• OFL 50th Anniversary (1957-2007)
• Report – Continence Care Policies and Practices in Long Term Care Homes (Nov. 2007)
• Submission – Ontario Expert Commission on Pensions (Oct. 2007)
• Submission – Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB): Accreditation Paper (May 2007)
• Resource – Improve Health and Safety in the Workplace (May. 2007)
• Fact Sheet – $10 Minimum Wage NOW! (Mar. 2007)
• Report – Guide to the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) (Feb. 2007)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Pre-Budget Consultations (Jan. 2007)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Social Policy: Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2006 (Jan. 2007)
• Report – The Perils of Experience Rating: Exposed! (Jan. 2007)
• Fact Sheet – Working Families Vote: Manufacturing Job Loss (Jan. 2007)
• Fact Sheet – Working Families Vote: Forestry Job Loss (Jan. 2007)
• Publication – 1900-2000: A Century of Women and Work (Jan. 2007)
• Fact Sheet – Women Vote ’07: Ending Violence Against Women (Jan. 2007)

2006

• Submission – Minister’s Advisory Council for Arts and Culture Workers in the Arts and Cultural Sector: Status, Organizing and Collective Bargaining Rights (May 2006)
• Fact Sheet – Hamilton-Wentworth Water: Back in Public Hands (May 2006)
• Fact Sheet – The Privatization of Water: The Wrong Direction (May 2006)
• Fact Sheet – How to Shake the P3 Money Tree (May 2006)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities: Apprenticeships (May 2006)
• Fact Sheet – P3 Superjail Goes Public (May 2006)
• Fact Sheet – Explaining P3s (May 2006)
• Fact Sheet – The Cost of P3s: The Brampton Experience (May 2006)
• Fact Sheet – Why We Don’t Agree with P3s (May 2006)
• Fact Sheet – P3s Come in Every Shape and Size (May 2006)
• Fact Sheet – A Brief History of P3s (May 2006)
• Fact Sheet – Privatization and Education (May 2006)
• Fact Sheet – Alternatives to P3 Privatization? (May 2006)
• Fact Sheet – Is Your Local Hospital Next on the List? (May 2006)
• Fact Sheet – P3s and AFPs: What’s the Difference? (May 2006)
• Submission – Minister’s Advisory Council for Arts and Culture Workers in the Arts and Cultural Sector: Status, Organizing and Collective Bargaining Rights (May 2006)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Social Policy: Bill 36 Local Health System Integration Act, 2005 (Feb. 2006)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Pre-Budget Consultations (Feb. 2006)
• Resource – Violence in the Workplace Regulation: Campaign Lobby Kit (Jan. 2006)
• Submission – WSIB: Consultation on Early and Safe Return To Work (ESRTW) Policies (Jan. 2006)

2005

• Policy Paper – Equality: Workplace Rights and Building the Labour Movement (Convention 2005)
• Policy Paper – Keeping the Pension Promise (Convention 2005)
• Policy Paper – Supporting a Great Tradition: Apprenticeship (Convention 2005)
• Policy Paper – Rebuilding Health Care (Convention 2005)
• Report – Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) and the Transformation of Government (Nov. 2005)
• Report – Lessons Learned on the UK Experience of Privatization of Public Services (Nov. 2005)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Labour: Confined Space Regulation (Jun. 2005)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Pre-Budget Consultations (Jan. 2005)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Social Policy: Bill 118 Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2004 (Jan. 2005)
• Resource – Ergonomic Regulations: Campaign Lobby Kit (Jan. 2005)

2004

• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Labour: Modernizing the Ontario Labour Relations Act (Dec. 2004)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Labour: Occupational Exposure Limits (Nov. 2004)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Labour: Mandatory Retirement (Sep. 2004)
• Submission – Overtime and Improved Enforcement of the Employment Standards Act, Bill 63 (May 2004)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal: Infrastructure Financing and Procurement (May 2004)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Labour: Code of Practice for Safeguarding of Machinery (Mar. 2004)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Justice and Social Policy: Bill 8 Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act (Feb. 2004)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Pre-Budget Consultations (Feb. 2004)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration: Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (Feb. 2004)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Labour: Ending the 60-Hour Work Week Discussion Paper (Feb. 2004)
• Resource – Guide sur les etablissements accessibles (Jan. 2004)
• Report – Bargaining for Work and Life (Jan. 2004)
• Resource – Accessible Facilities Guide (Jan. 2004)

2003

• Policy Paper – Stronger Unions, Human Rights, Communities (Convention 2003)
• Report – Droits et responsabilités en matière d’handicaps et d’adaptation (Sep. 2003)
• Report – Rights and Responsibilities in Respect of Disability and Accommodation (Sep. 2003)
• Submission – Ontario Human Rights Commission: Education and Disability (Jan. 2003)
• Report – What is a Disability: Synopsis (Jan. 2003)

2002

• Submission – WSIB: Consultation on Coverage (Mar. 2002)
• Report – The Privatization of Ontario’s Education System: 1995-2001 (Jan. 2001)

2001

• Policy Paper – Persons With Disabilities: Labour’s View (Convention 2001)
• Policy Paper – OFL Action Plan for a People’s Charter (Convention 2001)
• Report – Understaffed and Under Pressure: A Reality Check by Ontario Health Care Workers (Oct. 2005)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Finance: Surplus Distribution From Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Sep. 2001)
• Submission: Ontario Human Rights Commission: Accessible Transit Services in Ontario (Jun. 2001)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Finance: Establishing a Single Financial Services Regulator (Jun. 2001)

2000

• Report – Guide to Bill 139 Amendments to the Labour Relations Act, 2000 (Nov. 2000)
• Guide to the Ministry of Labour’s Proposed Changes to the Employment Standards Act (Oct. 2000)
• Report – Employment Standards Exemptions (Aug. 2000)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Labour: Time for Change: Ontario’s Employment Standards Legislation (Aug. 2000)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Labour: Proposals for Ontario Labour Law Reform (Jul. 2000)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Labour: Occupational Exposure Limits (Mar. 2000)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Pre-Budget Consultations (Feb. 2000)

1999

• Policy Paper – Human Rights (Convention 1999)
• Policy Paper – Occupational Disease: Shifting the Burden (Convention 1999)
• Policy Paper – Decent Work in a Decent Society (Convention 1999)
• Policy Paper – Fighting the Right and Building Our Vision (Convention 1999)
• Submission – Ontario Ministry of Labour: Future of Work in Ontario Discussion Paper (March 1999)
• Submission – Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Ontario Alternative Budget
• Submission – Tax Cuts: Ontario Alternative Budget Factsheet (Jan. 1999)
• Submission – Social Assistance: Ontario Alternative Budget Factsheet (Jan. 1999)
• Submission – Downloading to Municipalities: Ontario Alternative Budget Factsheet (Jan. 1999)
• Submission – Job Creation: Ontario Alternative Budget Factsheet (Jan. 1999)
• Submission – Housing & Homelessness: Ontario Alternative Budget Factsheet (Jan. 1999)
• Submission – Health Care: Ontario Alternative Budget Factsheet (Jan. 1999)
• Submission – Education: Ontario Alternative Budget Factsheet (Jan. 1999)
• Submission – Balanced Budget: Ontario Alternative Budget Factsheet (Jan. 1999)
• Balanced Budget: Ontario Alternative Budget Factsheet (January 1999)
• Fact Sheets: Common Sense Revolution: 1,460 Days of Destruction (Jan. 1999)

1998

• Ontario Alternative Budget: Education Funding in Ontario (Nov. 1998)
• Ontario Alternative Budget: Behind the Illusion of Stable Public Spending – Shrinking Public Services in Ontario (Jun. 1998)
• Ontario Alternative Budget: What the Tax Cut Means for Ontario’s Debt and Deficit (Mar. 1998)

1997

• Policy Paper – Organizing in a Cold Climate (Convention 1997)
• Policy Paper – Cultural Work (Convention 1997)
• Policy Paper – Labour’s Program for an Effective Enforcement System (Convention 1997 )
• Policy Paper – The Public Sector, Public Services and the Economy (Convention 1997)
• Policy Paper – Prevent, Protect, Compensate (Convention 1997)
• This is Putting Children First? Bill 160 and Education Funding in Ontario (Oct. 1997)