TORONTO— The bargaining committee representing members of Expertech, a wholly owned Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. company, is gearing up for a crucial strike vote, signaling the potential for imminent strike action. Following months of negotiation and the intervention of conciliation, Bell Expertech has yet to present a substantive monetary offer or commit to limit outsourcing to third-party contractors rather than investing in its own workforce.
Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray pays respects to the 26 victims of the Westray Mine Disaster, at a March 26 service at Their Light Will Always Shine Memorial Park in New Glasgow, N.S.
20th Anniversary of the Westray Law
Unifor is marking the 20th anniversary of the Westray Law with a renewed call on regulators, police and government to avail of this law to bring those who grossly violate workplace health and safety to justice.
WINNIPEG – Unifor members who work at Griffin Wheel, a foundry that manufactures train wheels in Winnipeg, went on strike this morning at 9 a.m., after the company’s latest offer would erode pensions, seniority rights and work-life balance issues.
As you are aware, the previous tentative memorandum of settlement (MOS) that was negotiated with CNTL on January 16, 2024, was not ratified by the membership.
On March 12, 2024, forestry workers from three unions convened for a summit to address the crisis in the industry and to develop sustainable solutions centred around job preservation. This meeting was unprecedented and signifies a new phase in the forestry workers' efforts to prevent the industry's collapse.
Embarking on a journey towards higher education comes with financial challenges. Recognizing this, Unifor takes pride in announcing the commencement of the application period for the 2024 Unifor National Scholarship program, designed to support individuals pursuing post-secondary education.
This year, we are pleased to offer 28 scholarships, each valued at $2,000. These scholarships are open to the children of Unifor members, as well as Unifor members themselves who are entering their first year of post-secondary studies.
Unifor welcomes key investments in infrastructure and sustained funding to reduce health care staff shortages and wait times, but more is needed to build Ontario’s economy and good jobs.
Unifor auto sector leadership are considering escalatory actions against Autoport, as the employer and its parent company CN Rail continue the use of scab labour.
“CN is showing blatant disrespect for its workers and their fundamental right to fair and free collective bargaining” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “After convening a meeting of our auto sector leadership, CN may be about to learn a very hard lesson.”
To: Tracy Robinson, CEO, Canadian National Railway Olivier Chouc, President, Autoport
As the elected representatives of Canada’s 20,000 auto sector members at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, we are writing to denounce your company and its subsidiary’s decision to use scab labour at Autoport in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
On March 22, 2024, we met to discuss the situation unfolding in Nova Scotia as well as a range of potential solidarity actions in support of Unifor Local 100 members affected by this dispute.
The Manitoba government has inaugurated its first Matriarch Circle, an initiative aimed at bolstering the protection and well-being of Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals. Announced by Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, this assembly draws together prominent matriarchs from across the province.
The approximately 281 members of the Canadian Air Navigation Specialists Association (CANSA) at Unifor Local 1016 are preparing for a strike vote next week after NAV Canada failed to reach an agreement with the union over wages and concessions.
SYDNEY, N.S.—Unifor Local 1971 members at Sobeys in Sydney, Nova Scotia, have filed for conciliation after a week of negotiations left the parties miles apart.
WINNIPEG—Manitoba workers and their families are paying the price after key legislation was blocked this week by the PC caucus.
“The Wab Kinew government has a clear mandate from voters to build an economy on good jobs and fair pay. By blocking key employment reforms, the PC caucus has reminded voters why the PCs aren’t fit to govern,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We call on the Manitoba PCs to stop playing games and let the Premier get to work on the agenda he was democratically elected to implement.”
The federal government must pass Bill C-58 without delay, Unifor National President Lana Payne urged MPs on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities as the federal government begins its study on the long-anticipated anti-scab labour bill.
“Bill C-58, federal anti-scab legislation, must pass and be implemented without delay,” Unifor National President Lana Payne tells MPs during her testimony before the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA).
Opening Statement – Lana Payne, Unifor National President
Thursday, March 21, 2024, 8:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Honourable members of the Committee, I am here before you today as the President of Unifor, representing 315,000 workers across Canada, including almost 70,000 in the federally-regulated private sector such as air, road, rail and marine transport as well as telecommunications and media.
Unifor rallied in Ottawa on March 19 to call out Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. (BCE) for postponing a scheduled hearing before the House of Commons Heritage Committee to answer for the recent termination of 9% of BCE’s workforce.
“Last year alone, while cutting jobs, Bell paid out an all-time high of $3.7 billion to shareholders. And between 2020 and 2022, CEO compensation rose by a whopping 40%. Is it any wonder workers in this country are angry?” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
TORONTO – Hundreds of Unifor Bell telecommunications members are being terminated on virtual group meetings today, just a day after Unifor rallied in Ottawa to call out Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. (BCE) for cutting thousands of jobs across the country while continuing to rake in profits and increase payouts to shareholders.
March 20 symbolizes the Journée internationale de la Francophonie, an emblematic date when the diversity and richness of the French language are celebrated worldwide. On this special day, we are honored to join the French-speaking community in celebrating our precious linguistic and cultural heritage, both in Quebec and across Canada.
More than 130 Ontario long-term care workers showed solidarity during Unifor’s Long-Term Care Bargaining Conference that took place in Toronto from March 18 to 20, 2024.
HALIFAX—CN Autoport and Unifor met with a conciliator today, however the union was left with no choice but to leave the table following repeated offers from the company that represented a worse deal for members than the last agreement, which they soundly rejected.
HALIFAX—The introduction of Nova Scotia NDP legislation to amend the Trade Union Act to protect workers on strike from their employer using replacement, or scab, workers is another important step toward more fair and free collective bargaining.
OTTAWA –Unifor rallied in Ottawa today to call out Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. (BCE) for postponing a scheduled hearing before the House of Commons Heritage Committee to answer for the recent termination of 9% of BCE’s workforce.
OTTAWA— On Tuesday March 19, Unifor will hold a media conference followed by a Bell worker rally prior to the testimony of Bell executives before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.
On March 15 Unifor members in Winnipeg marched on a secondary picket line at the local CN Autoport yard. Escalating actions will continue until CN stops using scab labour during the Halifax strike.
On March 14 Unifor members in Winnipeg safely stopped a CN train in solidarity with members on strike at CN Autoport in Halifax. Watch Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle describe the escalating actions taking place across Canada against CN.
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