She/Her

Joanne Hay is the Director of Health, Safety & Environment with Unifor. Unifor is Canada’s largest private sector union representing more than 315,000 workers across 20 sectors of Canada’s economy. Prior to joining Unifor’s National Health, Safety & Environment department in 2023, she served as the first woman in the history of General Motor’s (GM) Oshawa to hold the positions of full-time Health and Safety worker representative and GM Oshawa’s Health & Safety Coordinator overseeing the fastest demolition, construction, and launch of the GM Oshawa Truck Plant. Her passion for worker’s safety is her driving force in guiding and supporting the many challenges worker’s face daily in Canada. With her primary focus on prevention, Joanne sits on the board of directors for Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS), and Ontario Health Clinics of Ontario Workers (OCHOW). Amongst her many other responsibilities, she is also sits on the Ontario Section 21 Health Care Committee for labour and supports various research projects with the Canadian Institute of Safety, Wellness and Performance. In her off hours she enjoys spending time with her teenage daughter, family, and friends. She loves gardening, going to see live music, travelling, and spending time outside in nature.