About Us

Delegates in each region elect a representative to serve on the Provincial Young Workers Committee at the biennial Regional Meeting. The committee is comprised of 7 members, who are 30 years of age and under.

The role of the Provincial Young Workers Committee is to promote young worker involvement, to create a safe environment to share ideas, experiences and knowledge, and to advocate and educate around young worker issues.

History

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) passed a motion to establish a committee for workers age 30 and under at their Convention in 1997. Under the OFL Constitution, this meant workers 30 and under now had the right to elect a Vice-President to the OFL Executive Board. The OFL workers 30 and under committee is comprised of representatives from affiliated unions and labour councils.

This motion passed as a result of the labour movements understanding and need to build a succession plan to develop activism and leadership among young workers.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) followed by establishing a Youth Caucus* at the OPSEU Convention in 2001. At the 2004 OPSEU Convention, delegates voted to convert the Youth Caucus to the Provincial Youth Committee**, and at the 2006 Convention, the Provincial Youth Committee submitted its first constitutional amendment to change its name to the Provincial Young Workers Committee.

*For information on the work of the former Youth Caucus, please click here for the archives

**Difference between provincial caucus and provincial committee – a provincial caucus is a working group of members from all regions. These members are not elected, and there isn’t a minimum or maximum number of participants/members. A provincial committee is comprised of 7 elected members, one from each region. Under the OPSEU Constitution, the provincial committee can submit resolutions and constitutional amendments to the Annual Convention.