The End of an Era, The Dawn of What’s Next

Sisters, Brothers, and Friends,

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We stand together at the close of one chapter and the beginning of another. This moment is bittersweet, a farewell to our Local as we have known it, but also a celebration of everything we have built together: solidarity, courage, and a proud legacy of defending workers' rights.

Over the years, our Local has been more than a workplace organization. It has been a family, one that showed up for each other through challenges, victories, and everything in between. We have marched together for fairness, spoken up for those without a voice, and reminded our employer and our country that workers deserve dignity and respect.

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As your President, I could not be prouder of what we have accomplished together. Leading this Local has been one of the greatest honours of my life. I have witnessed your strength, your compassion, and your unwavering commitment to one another. Every success we have achieved was powered by you, by your solidarity, your determination, and your belief that together we can make change happen.

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Now, as our Local comes to a close, our spirit of solidarity does not end. It carries forward. Each of you will bring your experience, your strength, and your values into new Locals. You are the seeds of renewal, the people who will help shape the next generation of union activism.

This is not goodbye to our movement. It is a handoff. We have done our part, and now we pass the torch to you, to continue building power, equity, and justice where you go next. Get involved. Speak up. Take on roles, run for positions, show up at meetings, mentor others, and keep our union’s heart beating strong.

Remember this: a Local can close, but solidarity never does. Our collective spirit will live on in every grievance filed, every contract negotiated, and every act of unity you lead.

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So, we do not mourn an ending; we honour a legacy and embrace a new beginning. Thank you for everything you have given, for the victories you have made possible, and for the solidarity that will continue to light the way forward.

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In solidarity, forever, 

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Michelle Spencer

President, Local 00048