Unions have always worked to improve workplace conditions, pay and benefits. At the same time, they work to improve social and living conditions in their community and in society as a whole. Unions help to connect their members to needed community services, and work to expand, support and improve services in the community.
Historically, most community services were started and operated by charities. In the late 1940s, money for charitable organizations was raised through public ãtag daysä including plant gate collections. Unions and union members gave generously, wanting to support ãgood causesä in the community.

To replace the almost weekly collections, unions endorsed the idea of one federated campaign, to give ãonce and for all.ä This was the rationale for support of the Community Funds, Red Feather campaigns and now United Way.

Federated fundraising organizations in Canada began in Toronto and Vancouver. Following the U.S. model, they established full-time labour liaison positions. Initially these early staff positions were designed as fundraising positions. Programs and services to unions and union members were secondary. These early staff played an important role in the Social Services Committees of Labour Councils and Provincial Labour Federations.

1956
Toronto Labour Council helps create United Way

In 1956 the Labour Council of Metro Toronto was a ãfounding partnerä of United Community Fund of Greater Toronto, now known as United Way of Greater Toronto. The major role was to support the fundraising campaign in unionized workplaces. Labour also participated in United Way committees and boards. There was a Labour Participation Department at United Way, part of the operating budget.

1957
First Union Counsellor course

To promote and explain labourâs participation, a new bulletin was published: Labour Reports. In the first issue (January-February 1957), the bulletin describes the first union counselling course: ãSo that trade union members could learn more about the work of some of the agencies and how best to make use of the services of private and public welfare agencies, a Counselling School of seven weeks was organized.ä

The Union Counsellor program remains a key program in Toronto and across Canada, a joint program of the Canadian Labour Congress and United Way. The program trains members to provide information and referrals to co-workers facing issues of a personal nature, not covered by the collective agreement. Responding in an effective and confidential way, union counsellors connect members with community services and provide ongoing support.

1983
Labour Community Services

In 1983, the Labour Participation Department in Toronto was transferred to an independent new organization, Labour Community Services. LCS is a project of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, in partnership and funded by United Way of Greater Toronto. LCS continued the proud record of innovation through publications such as The Help Book, Strike Support Manual, When the Paycheque Stops, And I Got a Pink Slip.

Labour Community Services is a pioneer of ground-breaking programs:

ãNo Place for Violenceä (1993-95), workplace seminars funded by the City of Torontoâs Breaking the Cycle of Violence Program
Womenâs Advocate training, Canadian Auto Workers (1994-present)
ãMaking Choicesä (1991-92), Power Workersâ Union/Ontario Hydro province-wide seminars on substance use
ãLunch and Learnä seminars, held in the workplace over the lunch hour
Through ongoing programs and customized workshops and courses, Labour Community Services has provided training for dozens of union locals and regional labour bodies in the public and private sectors.

Nationally, labour and the United Way have been partners since the beginning of the United Way movement in Canada. This fruitful association was formalized in 1988 with the signing of a ãStatement of Principlesä between the CLC and United Way of Canada. The Statement is based on ãa common vision of building a society which provides a wide range of social and public services which are accessible, universal and of the highest quality.ä The partnership is recognized in the constitution of the United Way with labour seats on the Board being appointed by the CLC.