New rift appears amid Ontario labour with union's departure from federation

A new fissure has appeared in the landscape of Ontario union politics. The Labourers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) is leaving the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), stating that the OFL is engaging in “bad politics.”

In a statement posted on LinkedIn on Friday, LiUNA president Joseph Manincelli made his union’s case: “Recently the Ontario Federation of Labour and OPSEU HAVE ATTACKED the Skill Development Fund that has funded numerous LiUNA Training Centers and training, apprentice and mentorship programs that have empowered opportunities for marginalized communities, students, women in trades, youth at risk, second chance career paths and our indigenous partners. They have done so under the guise of protecting colleges.”

According to the province, the Skills Development Fund supports organizations looking to train or retrain workers. In a May 6 press release, the Ontario government announced almost $1 billion for it over the next three years for a total of $2.5 billion. In part, it is aimed at “reskilling” workers laid off because of U.S. tariffs. Meanwhile there is a capital funding stream aimed at helping organizations build, expand or retrofit their training facilities.

LiUNA’s business manager, Joseph Oliveira expressed similar sentiments in a letter sent to the OFL’s president, Laura Watson on Friday, formally notifying her of LiUNA’s withdrawal from the federation. (The National Post reached out to Watson for comment but has not yet received a response.)

Manincelli went on to say that the OFL is engaging in “nothing but bad politics” in its attacks on the Ford government. As a result, he continued, LiUNA won’t participate further in the OFL until it “starts treating private sector unions fairly, as opposed to favouring public sector unions to the detriment of LiUNA and its hundreds of thousand members.”

The LiUNA move has been welcomed by the Ontario government. Minister of Labour David Piccini also wrote on LinkedIn Friday.

“Organizations like LIUNA — who fight for their members and deliver strong, results-driven programs — are exactly the kind of partners we’re proud to support through the Skills Development Fund,” Piccini said. “Together, we’re protecting workers in these unprecedented economic times, while giving them the tools and training to land better jobs with bigger paycheques.”

LiUNA has previously endorsed Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservative government publicly, highlighting the Ontario government’s investments in skilled trades, training and infrastructure projects, and stating that the Ford government “shows up for them.”

It provided an official endorsement back in February before the provincial election. In a statement released at the time, Mancinelli said: “To date, Ford’s governments have invested over $60 million in LiUNA and their local chapters to boost skilled trades training across the province.”

That included a new training centre in Vaughan, Ont., aimed at helping “almost 100,000 people gain the skills and training they need to find good-paying jobs in construction. In addition, the union’s workers are involved in countless numbers of the more than $200 billion worth of publicly funded construction activity.”

Contrarily, the OFL has been highly critical of Ford, attacking his government over wages, public service cuts and privatization, arguing that Ford’s May 2025 budget “fails working Ontarians.”

Instead, the OFL argues, the budget was a “plan to reward Conservative insiders.” And counter to LiUNA’s appreciation for the government focus on skills development, the OFL says the Skills Development Fund “means little when the jobs being created don’t come with decent pay, security, or benefits.”

It shows a seeming preference for public sector workers, stating that “Ford continues to neglect … sectors that are key to our global competitiveness (such as) health care, childcare, public education, post-secondary, and public transit.”

The OFL has not been entirely alone. The International Association of Machinists and Aeropsace Workers argued, prior to the election, that the Ford government should have focused its efforts on combating the U.S. tariff threat, rather then spend money on another provincial vote.

In a statement released in late January, it said that more than 30 labour leaders from Ontario’s private, public, and trades sectors came together to demand action from Ford.

“A serious plan would include permanent investments in key publicly delivered services — not just in skilled training centres, but in restoring core post-secondary funding. Ontario needs immediate, ongoing support to ensure everyone has access to education and retaining in today’s changing economy.”

However, now there is a fresh rift amid Ontario labour with LiUNA’s withdrawal from the OFL.

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.