*NEW* Labour Cares Labour & United Way Bulletin

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  2. *NEW* Labour Cares Labour & United Way Bulletin

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LABOUR & UNITED WAY - A BULLETIN THAT YOU'LL FEEL GOOD ABOUT
Welcome to this bright little corner of your inbox! Introducing Labour Cares, a quarterly Labour & United Way bulletin by Labour Community Services, to keep you connected to Labour & United Way updates throughout the year. 

ATTENTION! THIS IS IMPORTANT: UNITED WAY IS PART OF THE LABOUR MOVEMENT
Labour and community go hand-in-hand. We all work and live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Through Labour Community Services, and the partnership between the Labour Movement and United Way, we work on stuff that matter to us most - caring for people - human rights, equity, anti-racism, and social justice. We care because we need each other to make the changes we want to see in this world. And, we have history! Our work together goes as far back as 1917!

LET'S TALK NUMBERS
Donations to United Way Greater Toronto go toward 312 United Way-funded agencies (more than 700 programs) across the GTA. Last year, 1.8 million people accessed vital services through these agencies, which include places for people to access shelter, food, employment and health services. With your support, union members raised more than $5 million in 2025, and that's amazing! United Way Greater Toronto is on track of reaching their 2025 goal of $112 million. 

CARING - ANY WAY WE CAN
There's nothing better than helping someone or making a positive impact. We want a way to connect more, and do more, together! We hope you enjoy this first issue of Labour Cares as we take on this year, any way we can.

Stay tuned and check out lots more below!

Sincerely, 
Your friends at Labour Community Services =)

Join us for the 1st Labour Cares personal hygiene kit drive
We're looking forward to reconnecting with everyone after all the cold weather. We invite you to drop in anytime from 10 am - 2 pm on Thursday, April 16, to help put together some personal hygiene care kits, make a product or monetary donation, or come say hi during your break! The proceeds of this spring drive will go toward Blue Door, which is a United Way-funded and unionized agency, and the largest emergency housing provider in York Region.

If you would like to help make a monetary donation to go toward us purchasing items for the care kits, please make a cheque to Labour Community Services - 895 Don Mills Rd, Tower 2, Suite 710, North York, ON M3C 1W3, or e-transfer to [email protected] with a note saying "for care kits." For product donations: we're looking for brand new/un-opened packs of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bar soap, and menstrual hygiene products (sanitary pads and tampons).

DATE: Thursday, April 16, 2026
TIME: 10 am - 2 pm
WHERE: IBEW 353 Hall - 1377 Lawrence Ave. E, North York, ON M3A 3P8
 
Please click here or the sign-up button below to fill out the interest/volunteer form. 
 
 

International Women's Day Mary Spratt Breakfast donations - thank you!


On Sunday, March 8, the annual International Women's Day Mary Spratt Breakfast was held at the Steelworkers Hall in Toronto. A menstrual product drive was able to collect 30 items, 2 personal hygiene kits and $90 cash. All donations will be added to the Labour Cares personal hygiene kit drive that will go to Blue Door. Thank you for your generous support.

Labour Presidents' UW Campaign Kickoff Breakfast and Daniele Zanotti Awards: October 26, 2026


The annual Labour Presidents' United Way Campaign Kickoff Breakfast will be taking place in the fall on October 26. During breakfast, union leaders from Peel, Toronto & York Region, learn about United Way, hear how your support makes an impact in the community, and celebrate the Labour & United Way partnership, all while meeting new and old friends.
Photos from the 2025 Labour Presidents' United Way Campaign Kickoff Breakfast hosted in collaboration with Labour Community Services of Peel, Toronto & York Region Labour Council, and Peel Regional Labour Council.
For the first time last year, the Daniele Zanotti Excellence in Partnership Award was presented to 2 unions and 2 individuals for their work in championing the values shared by the Labour & United Way partnership. This includes:
  • embracing and validating the Labour & United Way partnership,
  • fostering a collaborative culture within the Labour Movement,
  • valuing transparency,
  • embracing working class values,
  • challenging the status quo,
  • recognizing Labour’s contribution to the United Way annual workplace fundraising effort, and
  • putting the Labour & United Way story front and centre of all interactions with union members.
The 2025 recipients were:

Judith Logan Junop of IFPTE 160
Raul Guiterrez of USW 7536 
Toronto Public Library Workers' Union - CUPE 4948
(Brandon Haynes and Jinkie David accepting the award on behalf of CUPE 4948)
ATU 1572

We look forward to presenting the awards again this year at the breakfast. Stay tuned for full event details coming soon this summer.

Meet the 2025/26 United Way Labour Volunteers

Working hard in front of, and behind the scenes, we have a team of dedicated volunteers representing the Labour Movement who serve United Way in providing insightful direction and campaign support.

UW Campaign Cabinet:
  • Jinkie David, Campaign Cabinet Labour Co-Chair, CUPE 4948
  • Judith Logan Junop, Campaign Cabinet Labour Co-Chair, IFPTE 160
  • Cheryl Paron,  Campaign Cabinet Labour Co-Chair, Canadian Labour Congress
UW Board of Trustees:
  • Andria Babbington, President, Toronto & York Region Labour Council (ex-officio)
  • Ram Selvarajah, President, Peel Regional Labour Council
  • Ted Aivalis, Executive Vice President, CUPE Local 416

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING?

If you are interested in learning more about future Labour & United Way volunteering opportunities, please contact a United Way Labour Liaison by emailing:

Marcia [email protected] or Richelle [email protected]. 

We're here to help.

Want to learn more about United Way or have any questions? Connect with a United Way Labour Liaison today!

ASK US ABOUT
  • Booking a United Way presentation for your next meeting
  • How to start a workplace campaign
  • Get more involved
  • Resources
  • General questions
  • Making a donation
Email Marcia [email protected] or Richelle [email protected].
LABOUR & UNITED WAY
The Toronto & York Region Labour Council are founding partners of United Way Greater Toronto. Labour Community Services is a result of that partnership, and together, we have worked to tackle issues of poverty and strengthen the communities we all work and live - any way we can.
Email:
Address:
895 Don Mills Rd Tower 2, Suite 710
Toronto, ON M3C 1W3