Today, Unifor officially opens contract talks with the Canadian divisions of the Detroit Three automakers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. These talks will be the most consequential and closely watched in decades.
The 18,000 Unifor members covered by these collective agreements head into negotiations with similar challenges to what workers are facing across the industrial sector.
Wages haven’t kept up with rising inflation and certainly don’t reflect the recent record-setting profits of employers.
TORONTO— Unifor begins formal contract talks with Detroit Three (D3) automakers, Ford, General Motors and Stellantis on August 10, 2023.
"Our bargaining teams are ready to get to the table and start negotiations on behalf of 18,000 Unifor members covered by these contracts,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Our mission is clear. Our members want stronger pensions, better wages and a secure future in the transition to electric vehicle manufacturing."
TORONTO— More than 250 members at Unifor Local 591-G have ended their five-day-long strike after ratifying a new collective agreement with Active Dynamics.
“Congratulations to the bargaining team at Local 591-G for so firmly representing the needs of members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
Toronto – Unifor denounces the recent termination of Mark Chudak, President of the Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA) by SNC-Lavalin in what the union perceives as a hostile anti-union move.
Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray joined Local 597 President Carolyn Wrice and Unifor members in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador to appear in a media briefing alongside NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to talk about the affordability crisis.
Members of Local 4211 in Ontario and Local 4319 in Quebec who work for the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation have rejected the tentative agreement presented to them at a July 12 meeting.
“The members of Locals 4211 and 4319 have spoken, and I know that the bargaining committee is determined to obtain a good agreement for these workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “We know the job isn’t done until the membership approves the deal.”
The hard-fought negotiations between Unifor and Quinte Hospital have resulted in 98% of the membership ratifying the landmark tentative agreement.
“The agreement signifies a significant step forward for the healthcare professionals who tirelessly served their communities during the pandemic,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The wage increases and adjustments provide much-needed recognition of members’ contributions and dedication, will boost morale and address long-standing concerns over wage disparities.”
Dryden, Ontario - About 25 members of Unifor Local 324-18 voted 100% in favour of a new 3 year contract with Community Support Centre NW at ratification meetings held on Wednesday. Community Support Centre NW is a multi-service organization providing a variety of diverse support programs for children, youth, adults and families living in Dryden, Kenora and Fort Frances.
TORONTO-Unifor Local 4209 members were told to simply not report for work as YRC Freight Canada’s U.S.-based parent company, Yellow, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Toronto—National and local Unifor leaders and front-line Metro grocery workers will hold a media availability on Saturday, July 29, at 10:30 a.m. at a Metro store picket line.
Toronto—Frontline grocery workers at 27 Metro stores in the GTA will begin strike action on Saturday, July 29, at 12:01 a.m., with picket lines forming at each store at 8:00 a.m.
The strike action comes after Unifor Local 414 members voted to reject a tentative collective agreement.
TORONTO- In the past week, Unifor submitted three submissions to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and the Heritage department, responding to draft regulations and Bell Media’s attempts to water down its news requirements.
Nurses represented by four unions in Nova Scotia have voted in favour of a five-year contract that will see historic improvements in wages, premiums, occupational health and safety, and work-life balance.
Voting on the agreement took place from July 21st until noon today. Approximately 87.5 per cent of those who voted cast ballots in favour of the new agreement that was reached during Conciliation.
On August 1, 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act took effect laying a pathway to freedom for enslaved people in British colonies across the globe, including here in Canada. The ongoing impact of slavery on Black and Indigenous peoples spans generations. If we are to uproot and dismantle racism, we must confront our history and the terrible legacy of exclusion, segregation, displacement, and violence.
Unifor is proud to announce that more than 700 workers from the Original Cakerie in London, Ont. will join the union following a successful organizing campaign.
“The best way to get respect and a voice at work is to organize,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“A very warm welcome to our newest members from the Cakerie who have voted overwhelmingly to show they are ready to work collectively – through our union - for better working conditions and for a better world.”
The vote to join Unifor was held over a period of 48 hours beginning on July 24, 2023.
78 workers from Twin Lakes Terrace Long Term Care Community have voted overwhelmingly to join Unifor.
"The 78 workers at Twin Lakes Terrace Long Term Care Community have made a powerful decision to join Unifor,” Lana Payne, National President of Unifor Canada. “This organizing victory reflects the unity and determination of these new members to fight for better working conditions and a stronger, more equitable workplace."
INGERSOLL— Unifor welcomed news today that construction of a new EV battery module facility will bring 300 new jobs to the Ingersoll, Ontario General Motors (GM) CAMI Assembly Plant, with production scheduled to begin next year.
“This is good news for Unifor Local 88 members, good news for the community and good news for the economy,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “This investment is another important step in expanding Canada’s EV footprint and good union jobs for the next generation of autoworkers.”
WINDSOR—A tentative agreement has been signed between the bargaining committee representing members of Unifor Local 1959 and 240 and the employer, Windsor Salt.
The union began legal strike action 154 days ago, on February 17, 2023.
More details will be made available after the ratification vote on July 26.
This round of bargaining is the first since Windsor Salt was purchased by Stone Canyon Industries in 2021, a U.S-based private holding firm.
We are happy to announce that the Local 100 membership working at the Hudson Bay Railway (HBR) has voted to ratify the tentative agreement reached between the parties on June 28, 2023.
Unifor represents approximately twenty (20) Local 100 mechanics working in The Pas, Manitoba, who inspect, repair and maintain HBR’s Freight Car and Locomotive fleet.
HALIFAX – Unifor members of Local 2215 at IMP Aerospace have filed for conciliation to set a new pace for contract negotiations.
“This is a vulnerable time for many workers, with the rising cost of living putting extra pressure on every paycheque,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Local 2215 members are using the tools available to them in the labour relations toolbox in order to get an agreement in a timely manner. They have the total support of their national union.”
Unifor supports the calls by families of missing women Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran for police and municipal professionals to thoroughly search the Brady Road landfill for their remains. Police believe the bodies of the two women were deposited there by their killer last year.
Unifor also supports extending the search at the landfill to include Tanya Nepinak, whose remains were suspected to have been taken there in 2011.
“This is a different shipyard than the one Unifor first knew”
After an early morning breakfast meeting with the leadership of MWF Local 1, National President Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray, and Unifor staff pulled into the parking lot of Irving Shipbuilding nestled on the shoreline of the Halifax Harbour.
“It looks different from even four years ago,” said Payne. “And I remember before the new module hall was here – this is a different shipyard than the one Unifor first knew.”
It was the news Canadians were dreading. As the Bank of Canada raised the interest rate to 5%, hearts sank and anxiety rose for workers and their families.
The hike will prove to be a disaster. It will not solve the affordability crisis and it will not have an influence on inflation. Instead, it will continue to force housing costs even higher and will not address the causes of the rising price of food (ahem, profiteering) at all. But it will cause hardship.
Members of Unifor Local 112 working in the hospitality industry in the Greater Toronto Area met during a day-long strategy session on July 17, 2023.
The session kicked of planning for the next round of bargaining at five hotels, expected to start in the late fall this year.
“The hospitality sector has recovered from COVID-19, and so has the employer’s financial stability. Our collective agreements must reflect the new normal, including recent cost of living increases,” said Greg Burton, Assistant to the Unifor National Officers who helped lead the meeting.
Unifor has reached a tentative agreement with Metro grocery stores. The agreement covers 3,700 frontline grocery workers at 27 Metro stores across the Greater Toronto Area.
On strike since April 3, 2023, the 50 members of Unifor Local 700 who work for Autobus Venise have unanimously rejected the management offer presented to them at a meeting on July 7.
After an attempt at conciliation, the union and the employer were unfortunately unable to resolve the dispute. Despite the union’s efforts, negotiations remain deadlocked, highlighting the employer’s unwillingness to meet the workers’ legitimate demands.
TORONTO, ON – Workers from hospitals across Toronto held a series of rallies today outside St. Joseph’s Health Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital, and Providence Healthcare to speak out against the Ford government’s plan to privatize hospital services. Healthcare workers from the three sites, which are operated by Unity Health Toronto, included nurses, personal support workers, laboratory technologists, health care aides, cleaners, clerical staff, and many more.
Toronto, ON— Unifor has set a strike deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday July 18 for more than 3,700 frontline grocery workers at 27 Metro stores across the GTA.
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