Labour United Way Partnership
History
The Labour/United Way Partnership has deep national and local roots. It is founded on similar values and principles; a shared belief that in order for a community to be great, it must be great for everyone. Both movements understand that much more can be accomplished by working collectively.
Labour Community Advocate Training
A cornerstone of the partnership is the Labour Community Advocate Training Program. Labour Community Advocates (LCAs) have three roles:
- To link workers facing workplace, personal or family
challenges with resources in the community; - To identify community issues where the union can play a role
through collective bargaining or social actions; and - To support community activism among union members,
unions and labour organizations.
LCAs play a vital role in connecting the union, the workplace and the community. The course is a union-based course designed by the Canadian Labour Congress and endorsed by the SDLC.
“Like our organizations, the United Way recognizes the best way to help people is to focus on the root cause of the serious issues facing our communities. It takes the whole community working together to pull it off, and through our partnership, working people have an important role to play.”
– Lori Johb, Saskatchewan Federation of Labour President
Locally
In 1959, the Saskatoon and District Labour Council (SDLC) and the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce came together and formed what we now know as United Way Saskatoon and Area (UWSA). As a partner, advocate and community builder, the Labour Movement has played a significant role in the development and success of United Way since its inception. In 1995, SDLC and United Way of Saskatoon and Area formalized their 36 year partnership and signed their Statement of Principles. This Partnership renewed in 2010 with both parties recommitting to working together to strengthen our community.
Labour is represented at all levels of United Way of Saskatoon and Area, including a staff position and two designated labour seats on the Board of Directors.
Labour Representatives on UWSA Board of Directors:
- Jason Prokopchuk (President, USW Local 7689 and Nutrien Allan) – Vice-Chair
- Lucy Flack-Figueiredo (President, UFCW Local 1400) – Executive Board Member
Nationally
In 1988, United Way Centraide Canada (UWCC) signed a formal partnership agreement with Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), the largest umbrella organization of unions and other labour bodies in Canada representing over 3.3 million members. The partnership agreement, which includes a Statement of Principles, was renewed in June 2023 at the UWCC National Conference. This Statement is aimed at providing a context for the two organizations to work towards their common goals while respecting each other’s different approaches and structures. United Way is the only organization that CLC endorses as a matter of policy.
Period Promise – a new name… the same goal!
Since 2017, United Way and SDLC have worked together to ensure that everyone who menstruates has access to the products they need to fully participate in work, school, and daily life. The former Tampon Tuesday® initiative is now called Period Promise. Our 2025 campaign has begun, and we ask for your support to help address period poverty in Saskatoon and Area. For more information on how to get involved; to access our Period Promise toolkit and sample social media messaging, please visit: Period Promise – United Way Saskatoon & Area Below is a newsletter outlining the impact of the 2024 collection drive:
2024 December – Tampon Tuesday Newsletter
