OFL President Sid Ryan to step down

Ontario Federation of Labour president Sid Ryan announced last week that he will not seek re-election at the November OFL convention.

Ryan had served as the head of organized labour in the province since 2009, following 17 years as the president of CUPE Ontario. Ryan became a CUPE member by virtue of his work at Ontario Hydro and continued to keep an interest in energy sector labour issues, including giving his vocal support to Society members during the Bruce Power Local’s last round of collective bargaining. He recently spoke about the state of Ontario labour issues at the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers’ convention in Las Vegas.

“I want to thank Sid for his support of Society members over the years,” said Society president Scott Travers. “I know Sid cared a great deal about working people so this couldn’t have been an easy decision for him. I wish him well in the future.”

The next president of the OFL faces the task of healing rifts within the labour movement and bringing large unions back into the OFL.