Ontario Federation of Labour – 1st Affirmative Action Women Vice Presidents

The leadership role played by the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) Women’s Committee was crucial to winning this first affirmative action policy. The Committee organized a grassroots campaign and promoted an analysis linking affirmative action in the workplace with affirmative action in their unions. In 1982, the OFL Women’s Committee drafted a discussion paper on affirmative action titled “Our Fair Share.” The five newly-elected vice-presidents were (left to right): Carrol Anne Sceviour, United Steelworkers; Ev Sammons, Ontario Public Service Employees Union; Edith Johnston, United Auto Workers; Jean Robertson, United Food and Commercial Workers; Julie (Griffin) Davis, Canadian Union of Public Employees.