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Unifor comment and recommendations on government plans to restart the Ontario economy

Hon. Rod Phillips
Ontario Minister of Finance

Date: May 11, 2020

Minister Phillips,

Unifor represents 315,000 people working in Canada, including over 160,000 members in Ontario, across a diverse range of public and private sector workplaces. In the past three months, we have coordinated with many employers, including those in workplaces deemed “essential”, to develop proper workplace protocols and safety procedures to protect the health and wellbeing of workers and the public. 

Unifor thanks nurses for quality care and support during pandemic

Unifor stands with workers across the country and around the globe in recognizing and celebrating the outstanding contributions of nurses through the release of report highlighting contribution of RPNs and LPNs during National Nursing Week May 11 - 17, 2020.

Nurses across the country need our support and solidarity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses, along with all health care workers, are on the front line, battling the deadly virus each day. The work of RPNs and LPNs is invaluable to providing care for Canadians at all hours of the day.

Unifor thanks nurses for quality care and support during pandemic

May 11, 2020

TORONTO - Unifor stands with workers across the country and around the globe in recognizing and celebrating the outstanding contributions of nurses through the release of a report highlighting the contribution of RPNs and LPNs during National Nursing Week May 11 - 17, 2020.

Pharmacare needed for pandemic and after

Eight weeks into the shutdown, the prescriptions Canadians got filled before the pandemic or in its early days are starting to run low.

For those who rely on those medications to stay healthy, or even to stay alive, this is a new and personal health crisis stacked on top of a very public one. After all, those with underlying health problems are most at risk if they contract the coronavirus.

In many ways, COVID-19 has exposed the inequities in our society. It has taken the cracks in our society and blown them wide apart – including access to medications.

Unifor mourns the loss of PSW member due to COVID-19

TORONTO – Unifor mourns the loss of Leonard Rodriques a Local 40 PSW member who passed due to a preventable workplace exposure to COVID-19. “I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Leonard's family, as well as his union sisters and brothers who are working for Access Independent Living Services,” said, Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Leonard worked for more than thirty years providing care for those in need.

Unifor calls on the federal government for emergency drug coverage for all

April 29, 2020

SENT VIA EMAIL @email

The Right Honourable Prime Minister Trudeau, P.C., M.P.

Office of the Prime Minister

80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

Dear Prime Minister,

Since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, Canada and the rest of the world have been responding to what will surely be remembered as the biggest health, social and economic crisis of our time.

Many hospital workers ineligible for pandemic pay

May 7, 2020
Sent by email: @email
Hon. Doug Ford
Office of the Premier
Legislative Building, Queen’s Park
Toronto, ON M7A 1A1

Dear Premier Ford,

Unifor recognizes the importance of the $4 per hour “pandemic pay premium” that is being provided for front-line workers during this crisis. We all agree that these front-line workers deserve the extra compensation given their hard work and the health risks that they face while on the job.

Many front-line hospital workers left out from Ford pandemic pay

TORONTO – Unifor is calling on Doug Ford to immediately revise the Ontario's pandemic pay premium to include all health care workers. "I applauded Doug Ford when he announced the pandemic pay premium for health care workers but the devil is always in the details," said, Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "The premium leaves out many hospital workers, some of whom are doing the same job as those in long-term care and social services.

Unifor calls on the federal government for emergency drug coverage for all

Dear Prime Minister,

Since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, Canada and the rest of the world have been responding to what will surely be remembered as the biggest health, social and economic crisis of our time.

The federal government has indeed stepped up to implement significant emergency support measures for individuals and businesses. As this crisis continues, however, we urge you to address one of the most glaring and pressing issues facing Canadians: the lack of access to prescription medication.

READ THE FULL LETTER HERE

Ottawa must take on Facebook and Google now

Canada’s news organizations are in mortal peril, and it’s time for the federal government to take on the two marauding tech giants that are largely to blame.

Facebook and Google have pillaged the Canadian digital advertising market over the past decade. Between them, they have scooped up the vast majority of the revenue in Canada’s $6-billion-plus online advertising market — advertising that has been the chief source of revenue for Canadian media organizations. 

Asian and South Asian Heritage Month

May 1, 2020

May marks Asian and South Asian Heritage Month in Canada, an important time to celebrate the contributions and achievements Asian and South Asian Canadians have made to our society—enriching our culture, politics, diversity, and everyday life. During this time, we also reflect on the perseverance and activism of Asian Canadians who’ve shaped Canada into what it is today.

Mr. Furnace serves lockout notice to workers during pandemic

May 1, 2020

ST. CATHARINES—Members of Unifor Local 1999 working at Mr. Furnace have been served notice that they could be locked out of their jobs on Monday, in the midst of a public health and economic crisis.

“It’s a new low for labour relations to see an employer issue this notice during a pandemic,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “COVID-19 is already responsible for hundreds of thousands of layoffs. Locking out workers that still have their jobs is an especially heartless move right now.”

Expanding access to emergency child care in Ontario

April 30, 2020

Premier of Ontario                                                                                               sent by e-mail: @email

Minister of Education Hon.Stephen Lecce                                                       sent by e-mail: @email

RE: EXPANDING ACCESS TO EMERGENCY CHILD CARE IN ONTARIO

Letter to Doug Ford regarding COVID19 Pandemic Premium Pay

April 29, 2020

Honourable Doug Ford                                                                       sent via e-mail: @email

Office of the Premier

Legislative Building

Queen’s Park

Toronto, ON M7A 1A1

Re: Clarification on $4 per hour pandemic pay for auxiliary staff

Dear Premier Ford,

Refinery workers reject Co-op’s so-called final offer

After Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) snubbed the premier’s mediators and unilaterally forced a final contract vote on refinery workers, Unifor Local 594 members have voted 89 per cent against the contract.