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More disrespect, austerity measures for NS workers

HALIFAX, Aug. 18, 2015 /CNW/ - After 18 months of tensions and attacks on public sector workers and their unions, the Nova Scotia government today laid down the next step in its curtailment of workers' rights. 

Outages continue at coast guard stations during busiest month

PRINCE RUPERT. BC, Aug. 18, 2015 /CNW/ - The Marine Traffic and Communication Services (MTCS) centre in Prince Rupert experienced another outage last night. The affected area included the entire west coast of Vancouver Island—the area once monitored by MTCS base in Ucluelet closed by the Harper Conservatives in April this year.

Locked out Airport taxi drivers stage rally

OTTAWA, Aug. 17, 2015 /CNW/ - Ottawa taxi drivers serving the airport will be staging a slow-moving protest this afternoon as part of their dispute with the airport authority over fees.

"These people work 15-16 hours a day to eke out a living," said Harry Ghadban, a National Representative with Unifor, which represents the drivers.

Free cab rides at Ottawa airport

OTTAWA, Aug. 12, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor Local 1688, representing Ottawa taxi drivers, is offering free rides from the Ottawa Airport today for the elderly and families with children, as a dispute with the airport authority over a jump in dispatch fees continues.

"This is not a dispute between us and the public. This dispute is between us and the airport authority, and the company," said Unifor National Representative Harry Ghadban.

Ottawa airport taxi drivers locked out

OTTAWA, Aug. 11, 2015 /CNW/ - Taxi drivers serving passengers at the Ottawa Airport have been locked out, despite a commitment by the drivers to continue serving customers during their current dispute with the company.

"We had set up a job action that affected the employer, while continuing to provide a vital service to the public," said Unifor National Representative Harry Ghadban.

ORPP needs to mirror the CPP: Unifor

TORONTO, Aug. 11, 2015 /CNW/ - While it is a positive step that the Ontario government is moving ahead with pensions for the two-thirds of Ontarians with no workplace pension, it is disappointing that there will be so many exemptions to the new provincial plan, Unifor says.

Harper’s Netflix Fixation: Why Do American media companies get special treatment in Canada?

Eleven weeks to go and Stephen Harper’s “no Netflix tax” is an early campaign gimmick.

It is a predictable anti-tax pitch from the PM, but it says a lot about his chaotic public policy in Canada’s multi-billion dollar broadcasting industry. Not even the wealthiest American media company operating in Canada, Netflix still rakes in $400 million a year in Canada, employs no Canadians, and contributes nothing to the Canadian television system or the Canadian economy.

Unifor files in court to seek wages owed to container truck drivers

VANCOUVER, Aug. 4, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor is asking a provincial judge to direct the Container Trucking Commissioner to enforce the wages owed to container truck drivers as part of the March 2014 Joint Action Plan. The Plan was signed by Premier Christy Clark, representatives for federal Minister of Transportation Lisa Raitt, and Jerry Dias from Unifor.

Crass politicking threatens Ontarians' retirement security: Unifor

TORONTO, July 30, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor is reiterating its call on the Conservative government to support the creation of a provincial pension plan.

"Prime Minister Harper's refusal to enter a service agreement to support the implementation of the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP) is undermining the retirement security and democratic will of the people of Ontario," said Ontario Regional Director Katha Fortier.

Beer can strike settled

After 22 months on the picket line, employees at beer can maker Crown Metal Packaging...

Health care tops agenda

When Canada’s premiers gathered for their bi-annual meeting in St. John’s...

Paper Excellence mill closure will hurt Sunshine Coast communities

PORT MELLON, BC, July 23, 2015 /CNW/ - The unexpected closure of the paper production operations at the Howe Sound Mill owned by Paper Excellence could cost more than 130 jobs, says Unifor Local 1119.

"The announcement was a shock to us all," said Unifor Local 1119 President Don Rheaume. "We're very disappointed and will work hard to help our members who are displaced by the closure."