Description: The Ontario Federation of Labour may be forced to lay off some of its staff after reports that the United Steelworkers Union may be withdrawing funding or leaving the federation.

Source: The Toronto Star

Date: 10/20/2014

Link: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/10/20/ofl_facing_cuts_as_steelworkers_apparently_yank_funding.html

Related links:

• Sun News Network story
• Letter obtained by the Sun News Network
• 2013 story on the OFL deficit
• Ontario Federation of Labour
• The United Steelworkers

Questions for discussion:

• Consult your text: What is the function of a labour federation?
• Which is the largest labour federation in Canada?
• Why do you think a union would want to belong to a labour federation?
• What appears to be the cause of the dispute between the USW and the OFL?
• What would be the impact on the OFL if the USW leaves?