October 7 is the World Day for Decent Work. Unifor proudly marks this day each year as a chance to reflect on the current struggles affecting our members, and working people internationally. As a trade union, we believe that good jobs, fair wages, and improving the many conditions in which people go to work each day is the way to achieve a better world for everyone.
This has been a particularly difficult year for many Canadians. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit every household in some way. Jobs have been lost, or changed significantly. Loved ones have become sick. We all worry.
VANCOUVER—The targeted action for transit users, renters, and working people in premier John Horgan’s platform helps form a vision for B.C.’s future that leaves no one behind, says Unifor.
“John Horgan is the right leader to help navigate British Columbia through challenging times,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The platform released by Horgan today shows that he wants to continue supporting people through this pandemic while helping make life more affordable for working families.”
Following pandemic struggles, VIA Rail bargaining to re-start with virtual meetings
Unifor Local 100 and Council 4000 are set to re-start negotiations with VIA Rail following months of crisis management throughout the first and now second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local 100 virtual bargaining is scheduled for next week, from October 14-16 and October 19-23. Unifor Council 4000 is in talks with VIA on scheduling a return to the bargaining table at the end of October and/or beginning of November.
TORONTO – Today the Chief Medical Officer of Health issued Directive #5, which provides clear guidance that N-95 or superior protection masks, face shields and other equipment are to be provided to health care staff working on the front line in long-term care facilities or hospitals dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks, among other improvements. “The updated standards in Directive #5 are the culmination of many hours of frank and open collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
ST. JOHN’S–Striking Dominion workers will hold a picket line food drive to help local charities provide Thanksgiving meals to families in need.
“These workers want to make sure that no one goes hungry on Thanksgiving,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Unifor Dominion members will be accepting donations that would normally be made in store at all picket line locations to be distributed to food insecure families across the province.”
Last month, it was reported that the Liberal caucus identified a guaranteed basic income as the top policy priority to debate and vote on at the party’s upcoming November national convention. This comes as little surprise. The COVID-19 pandemic and catastrophic job loss that ensued has intensified calls for the strengthening of Canada’s social safety net and income security programs that have proven to be inadequate during times of economic crisis.
Unifor welcomes Directive #5 providing clear guidance that N-95 or superior protection masks, face shields and other equipment are to be provided to health care staff working on the front line in long-term care facilities or hospitals dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks, among other improvements.
Unifor appreciates the recognition of personal support workers in the temporary wage enhancement but demands the Ontario government not exclude all other frontline workers.
TO: Dale Mastel, Vice President, UWUA Local 609 Robert Laidlaw, UWUA Local 609 Negotiating Committee
Dear Brothers:
On behalf of 315,000 Unifor members across Canada, we want to express our deep solidarity with your struggle to negotiate a good contract with your employer, NPL Construction.
Today, Canadian union leaders representing more than 310,000 Canadian workers are calling on the Trudeau government to take urgent, concrete steps to prevent permanent, long-lasting damage to the aviation sector by providing direct support.
October 1, 2020 HAMILTON– Torstar has reversed the elimination of 24 jobs at the Hamilton Spectator classified call centre, following collaborative consultation with Unifor. “We’re pleased that our union was able to work together with Torstar to find an alternative solution to moving these jobs to the United States so that Canadians can remain employed,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
Canadian union leaders representing more than 310,000 Canadian workers are calling on the Trudeau government to take urgent, concrete steps to prevent permanent, long-lasting damage to the aviation sector by providing direct support.
This week, our members at Ford Motor Company ratified a new collective agreement, with 81 per cent of members voting in favour. As our National President Jerry Dias said: “The vote result not only demonstrates our members’ overwhelming support for their bargaining committees and their new collective agreement, but also shows Unifor members have a clear vision of a strong and prosperous Canadian auto sector.”
FREDERICTON— Unifor is calling the expected closure of Clinic 554 today a failure of Premier Higgs’ government to provide adequate health care services and protect New Brunswickers.
MONTREAL—Unifor condemns the treatment of Joyce Echaquan as she lay dying in a Joliette, Quebec hospital and says that it belays the deeply systemic anti-Indigenous racism in Canadian health care.
TORONTO—Unifor members from coast to coast are participating in Orange Shirt Day today, the annual event to honour and acknowledge the survivors of Canada’s shameful residential school system.
“Unifor is deeply committed to reconciliation,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We’re proud to work with our Indigenous partners to both heal and fight for justice and put an end to systemic racism.”
Striking workers at Loblaw Co. owned Dominion stores call on billionaire Loblaw Chairman Galen Weston to pay employees a living wage and to stop the overuse of part-time employees to do full-time work in a new ad, launched on Newfoundland television and Facebook today.
Unifor members working at Ford Motor Company voted 81% in favour of new three year collective agreements that include $1.95 billion in investments to bring battery electric vehicle (BEV) production to Oakville and a new engine derivative to Windsor, along with other significant gains. Read the news release here.
Unifor members working at Ford Motor Company voted to ratify (by 81%) new three year collective agreements that include $1.95 billion in investments to bring battery electric vehicle (BEV) production to Oakville and new engine derivatives to Windsor, and other significant contract gains.
On October 1st we celebrate the International Day of Older Persons.
First observed in 1991, the General Assembly of the United Nations designated this special day to draw attention to the important contribution of seniors and to changing demographics: the greying of the population, or the "age of aging."
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TORONTO—Local union leadership across all Ford Motor Company locals in both trades and production delivered a unanimous endorsement of the tentative agreement reached between Unifor and the company last week. “This resounding endorsement by our leadership on the shop floor across all of Ford Motor Company facilities is a testament to the strength of the deal our Bargaining Committee negotiated,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
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