Who are we? What do we do?

Why Join Labour Council? Download our brochure!

Working people, working together, to build a better community

The Toronto and York Region Labour Council is a central labour body that combines the strength of hundreds of local unions representing 205,000 working men and women and their families. Its mandate is to organize and advocate on issues that are vital to working people throughout the region.

Working for Strong Cities

Decisions made by local governments help shape the kind of cities we live in. Municipalities are responsible a wide variety of services and programmes - from public transit to social services to the water we drink. Labour Council has a long tradition of involvement in municipal politics, including supporting candidates during elections.

Annual Events

We organize the annual Labour Day Parade - the largest such parade in North America; Mayworks - the festival for working people and the arts; and the Day of Mourning event to highlight health and safety issues. Numerous seminars and conferences are organized throughout the year to focus on specific issues facing working people in Toronto and York Region.

Services to Meet Members Needs

Through Labour Community Services, a project of the Labour Council, in partnership with the United Way, we offer courses to union members which enable them to deal with lifestyle issues.  Through Labour Education Centre we offer courses that assist workers to improve their skills, and labour adjustment programs for those facing layoffs or plant closures.

We Speak Out On Community Issues

We are proud of the diverse makeup of our communities. We have spoken out time and time again on issues of equity and social justice. We have joined with many others to demand that our public services are kept in public hands.