In what is being called a “proud achievement for all of UFCW Canada,” Local 1000A President Pearl Sawyer has been elected unanimously to serve as International Vice-President on the UFCW International Executive Board.
“For more than three decades, President Sawyer has been a tremendous advocate, trailblazer, and fighter for workers' rights and the membership,” said Paul Meinema, UFCW Canada National President and UFCW International Executive Vice-President. “Just as Pearl brings her strength, resolve and courage to her Local Union and to our great national union, she will no doubt make an outstanding contribution in her new and additional role as a UFCW International Vice President.”
The International Executive Board provides oversight for the decisions and activities of the International Union.
“This is a proud achievement for all of UFCW Canada and we congratulate President Sawyer on her well deserved election to the UFCW International Executive Board,” Meinema said.
Sawyer joins National President Meinema, and Canadian International Vice-Presidents Wayne Hanley, Douglas O’Halloran, Antonio Filato and Shawn Haggerty on the board to represent the perspectives of UFCW Canada members and to lead the union’s groundbreaking efforts throughout North America and the globe.
Sawyer’s history with the labour movement goes back more than three decades to the kill floor of the Canada Packers plant in Prince Edward Island. There, she showed signs of the union activist and leader she would become. In her early 20s, Sawyer found herself getting laid off during seasonal slowdowns and hired back when things picked up, whereas men, with less seniority than her, were being kept on. Sawyer took the company head-on, filing a grievance and then, a human rights complaint citing discrimination based on sex. Her efforts would pay off, and she became the first woman to work on the kill floor at Canada Packers in the post-war period.
Fresh off her victory, Sawyer rose through the ranks of her local union and eventually became the youngest — and first woman — to serve as the secretary-treasurer of the PEI Federation of Labour.
In the early 1980s, Sawyer moved to Ontario after being hired by Local 1000A as an organizer.
Since being hired on staff, Sawyer has played a key role in Local 1000A’s stewards training program, leading and participating in contract negotiations, advocating for women and family issues and spearheading Worker’s Compensation and Health & Safety matters. She has also held a variety of positions within the local union, including organizer, Director of Research and Education, Executive Assistant to the President, and Executive Vice-President. In July 2011, she became president of Local 1000A.
Sawyer’s achievements and commitment to protecting and enhancing workplace rights and the health and safety of workers have made her a trailblazer in Ontario. In addition, Sawyer is also the longest serving Vice-President at the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL). Most recently, she served as chair of the UFCW International Constitutional Committee at the UFCW International Convention.
Congratulations Pearl!
