Fred Shilson

Background

About Fred Shilson

I am a labour leader, negotiator, and political organizer with a track record of securing strong contracts, mobilizing workers, and shaping pro-worker policies. Whether at the bargaining table, in political action, or through strategic advocacy, I work to build worker power and drive real change. As Membership Secretary of CUPE Local 79, I oversee member engagement, organizing strategies, and union governance, ensuring that workers have a voice in our union and our city. I previously served as Bargaining Lead for Long-Term Care, where I negotiated critical improvements for frontline healthcare workers, securing better wages, protections, and working conditions. Beyond my union leadership, I am a key member of the Toronto & York Region Labour Council’s (TYRLC) Political Action Committee, where I help advance municipal and provincial policies that protect workers, strengthen public services, and build progressive political power. I understand that labour and politics are deeply connected, and I work to ensure that decision-makers hear—and act on—workers' priorities. My work is driven by a no-nonsense, strategic approach to leadership, rooted in collective bargaining, policy advocacy, and grassroots mobilization. I believe that transparency, engagement, and bold action are key to winning better conditions for workers—not just at the negotiating table, but in shaping the laws and policies that govern our lives. Labour Leadership | Bargaining & Negotiations | Political Organizing | Advocacy & Public Policy I am committed to strengthening the labour movement at all levels—local, provincial, and national—by building worker power, shaping pro-worker policies, and ensuring that unions remain a force for social and economic justice. Whether in negotiations, policy discussions, or political action, I work to deliver real change that benefits workers and strengthens public services