WASHINGTON— Unifor warns that Canada must act to protect workers and Canadian jobs amid the continued threat of U.S. tariffs in the Trump era.
“The looming tariff threat serves as a real wake up call on the need to mitigate the risk to Canadian workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
President Trump indicated that he may move ahead with a 25 per cent across-the-board tariff on Canadian goods as soon as February 1, 2025.
VANCOUVER – Unifor Members employed at Transdev (formerly First Transit) in Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island have filed strike notice after talks broke down with the company.
“As I’ve said before, strike action is not something we take lightly, we want to resolve this dispute with the employer, but our members are prepared, if necessary,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“We will support our transit members with all our strength.”
Unifor reaches tentative agreement with Toronto Terminals Railway
Unifor Local 4003 has reached a tentative four-year agreement with Toronto Terminals Railway (TTR).
“This agreement delivers stability and important gains for members at TTR,” said Jeff Ongena, Local 4003 TTR Chairperson. “These workers play a crucial role in the safe operation of one of Canada’s busiest rail corridors.”
THUNDER BAY, ONT.—Unifor welcomes today’s Ontario commitment to spend nearly $500 million to refurbish 181 GO Transit bi-level rail coaches, which is expected to support hundreds of jobs for Unifor Local 1075 members at the Alstom facility in Thunder Bay.
“This investment extends the life of the manufacturing facility in Thunder Bay and introduces some near-term stability for hundreds of Unifor members and their families,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
EDMONTON—Unifor stands in solidarity with Alberta’s striking education workers and calls on the provincial government to restore funding for fair wages and adequate staffing, including for the 3,500 education workers represented by Unifor in the sector.
KANATA, ON. — Unifor members on strike at medical manufacturer Best Theratronics are marking a full year since the company gave them their first and only offer of 0% wage increases.
“This anniversary is a disgraceful indictment of a system that has failed these workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
Workers at VPC in Toronto have ratified a new three-year collective agreement.
“Congratulations to the bargaining committee,” sad Unifor National President Lana Payne. “This contract addresses gains in wages and pensions that will help create more stability for the lives of our members.”
KANATA, ON. — It’s been a year since Unifor members at Best Theratronicswere given the company’s first and only offer of zero wage increases. Since Jan. 16, 2024, the employer has not bargained with Unifor.
The 40 workers at Agropur Cooperative in Sussex, N.B. have chosen to join Unifor.
“Congratulations to Agropur workers for making the decision to have Unifor fight in their corner,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We are looking forward to helping make improvements to working conditions and of course, bargaining your first contract.”
The workers, some of whom are in Skilled Trades, manufacture butter, skim milk powder and custom milk powder blends and will be represented by Unifor Local 506.
CPKC workers vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike action
Dear Members,
Unifor members of Local 101R at Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway (CPKC) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, with 99% of members supporting the mandate, preparing to take action should an agreement not be reached by 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on January 29, 2025.
CALGARY – Unifor members of Local 101R at Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway (CPKC) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, with 99% of members voting in support.
“This strike mandate shows the strength and determination of CPKC workers to achieve a fair deal,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Members are united in their demands for job security and work ownership, fair wages, and improved working conditions.”
Together Unifor and our members will stand against Trump’s bully tactics to protect and defend Canadian jobs. Watch National President Lana Payne’s video message.
Public life and public service are not easy, and I want to sincerely thank Prime Minister Trudeau for his service to our country. Despite everything, it is indeed a privilege to serve Canadians and Canada.
MONTREAL – Members of Unifor Council 4000 and Local 100 have ratified a new collective agreement with CN, concluding a challenging round of bargaining.
“This agreement secures important gains that reflect the critical contributions of Unifor members to CN’s operations,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We are proud to deliver improvements that address pension security, work ownership and working conditions, which were top priorities for members.”
Unifor Council 4000 and Local 100 are pleased to announce that members have voted to ratify a new collective agreement with CN. This agreement, reached after a challenging round of bargaining, represents significant progress in securing meaningful gains for over 3,000 Unifor members across Canada.
WINDSOR— The eight-week long strike action at Clear Medical Imaging has ended with Unifor and the employer agreeing to binding arbitration. Unifor Local 2458 members will return to work starting on December 30, with full return on January 2, 2025.
“While we would have preferred to obtain a negotiated agreement, it became clear that arbitration was a necessary step to obtain a first collective agreement for these workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We are confident in our case and look forward to delivering the gains that these members went on strike to achieve.”
January 4 is newly celebrated as National Ribbon Skirt Day in Canada. The movement to recognize the importance of ribbon skirts to many Indigenous communities arose out of the experience of Cote First Nation youth Isabella Kulak, who was belittled by school staff in January 2021 for wearing a ribbon skirt to Kamsack Comprehensive Institute in Kamsack, Saskatchewan.
As the year comes to an end, we wish all Unifor members, local leaders, activists and staff a very happy holiday season.
There is much to reflect on as we think back on this year. Together, we bargained strong collective agreements, fought for justice for the workers who needed it the most, and achieved historical wins at the bargaining table and legislatively. We won anti-scab legislation federally and in the province of Manitoba. We organized many new workers into our union.
VANCOUVER – Members of Transdev (formerly First Transit) in Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island at Unifor Local 114 have voted unanimously in favour of strike action if an agreement cannot be reached with the company.
“Transit workers are an integral vein to our society, safely and efficiently getting the public to work, school and wherever they have to go,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Strike action is not something we take lightly, but our members are prepared, if necessary.”
Unifor Local 222’s Retired Workers Chapter turns 75 next year, but chapter chairperson Lyle Hargrove is already setting his future sights set on the milestone 100th anniversary.
“Just because you quit working doesn't mean you quit having fun,” said Hargrove. “The stigma is that once you finish your working career, then that's the end of it. But by having a retired workers chapter, the activism continues, the community involvement continues, and then, the breadth of knowledge to the union continues.”
Canada Cartage members at Unifor Local 222 in Oshawa, Ont. have ratified a new agreement, which includes wage increases of around 15% over four years.
“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for their outstanding work,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “This agreement continues the pattern of winning solid gains for our members throughout 2024.”
The event, themed “Kwa Umoja We Rise”—a Swahili phrase meaning “Together We Rise”—emphasized unity and solidarity in the fight against the rising global backlash against 2SLGBTQIA+ rights.
We wanted to give you an update with ongoing negotiations with the company.
Throughout October and November, the union and company representatives convened to discuss provincial proposals. Unfortunately, these meetings resulted in minimal progress, which is disappointing for all parties involved.
WINDSOR – This morning, Clear Medical Imaging showed up at the bargaining table with no response to the union’s latest offer to settle the ongoing strike.
Despite the union’s repeated requests for a counteroffer, the employer chose to break off talks. The union will now apply to the Labour Board for first contract interest arbitration.
Unifor Women’s Director Tracey Ramsey was elected President of the UNI Americas women’s committee during the 7th UNI Americas Women’s Regional Conference held in La Falda, Argentina, which drew over 180 women union leaders from more than 17 countries.
Unifor National President Lana Payne said of the union's participation, “Issues affecting women are shared beyond borders. Spaces like the UNI Americas Women’s Conference give workers’ representatives the ability to plan a coordinated response to a coordinated erosion of our rights.”
The push for the Ontario government to declare IPV an epidemic
The opening day of Unifor’s 2024 Ontario Regional Council coincided with December 6—the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada.
The two-day ORC opened with an Indigenous welcome by Elder Gilbert Sunday and the All Nations Junior Drummers.
In her address, Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi committed to carving a path forward for all workers to thrive.
Unifor is proud to have 160 WestJet airport ramp workers at YYC in Calgary and YYZ in Toronto join the union, with protections under the existing collective agreement.
Unifor National President Lana Payne shared her determination to fight for Canada's workers at Ontario Council this past weekend. "We will be the voice of workers and good jobs as we climb this mountain, as we navigate the very difficult days ahead, as we force governments and the business community to understand there is nothing normal about these times."
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