We, the undersigned, are writing to express our profound concern about the proliferation of sexually explicit AI-generated content, specifically through tools like xAI’s “Grok”.
TORONTO—As Canadian workers mark one year of economic disruption and job losses triggered by U.S. tariffs targeting Canada’s auto industry and other key sectors, Unifor is escalating the union’s clear demand to corporate and government decision-makers: “Sell Here. Build Here.”
“The last twelve months saw workers in trade exposed industries go through hell. We’ve witnessed job loss and workers left in limbo as Trump continues to hammer our economy,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
Lewis, 88, a former politician, broadcaster and labour mediator, was a long-time friend to Unifor, Canadian Auto Workers’ (CAW) Union, and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP). Throughout his life, he made a profound and lasting impact on working people with his fiery speeches and effective activism.
This week marks one year since the United States imposed 25% tariffs on the import of Canadian autos, one of the most damaging measures in a series of escalating trade attacks by U.S. President Donald Trump on Canadian workers and industries.
The auto tariffs struck at the heart of Canada’s manufacturing economy, threatening tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and disrupting an integrated North American supply chain.
For more than a year, Canadian workers have been on the front lines of Donald Trump’s trade war and the damage it has caused across key sectors of our economy.
Unifor is calling on a mediator to help address key outstanding issues as bargaining continues for nearly 2,000 hospital workers across northern Ontario, with a focus on achieving stability and respect for frontline care.
“This round of bargaining is about fairness, and our hospital workers deserve so much more,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Workers doing the same jobs, in the same hospitals, should not be paid differently or have access to different benefits—our members are feeling utterly disrespected.”
Unifor took to Parliament Hill to push MPs from all sitting parties to enact worker’s demands to Protect Canadian Jobs, as U.S. imposed tariffs continue to put Canadian jobs and entire communities at risk across the country.
During the union’s federal lobby week, Unifor leadership, including national officers, National Executive Board members and local leaders sat down to share their experiences in workplaces and industries at risk, and to push for urgent action.
Unifor Local 2002 members at Air Canada Flight Operations Crew Scheduling have ratified a new four-year collective agreement, with 96% voting in favour.
“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for negotiating a fair deal that reflects the essential role our aviation members play in airline operations,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“Their precision, expertise, and dedication are critical to ensuring the airline operates smoothly.”
Unifor welcomes targeted investments in Ontario’s 2026 Budget that support workers including improved pension protections. The union stresses that more needs to be done to address rising unemployment, affordability, and strained public services, particularly the province’s under resourced health care system.
“Ontario sits at the centre of Canada’s economy and the front lines of the ongoing trade war, where workers in trade-exposed sectors and their families are feeling the impact,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
On Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV), March 31, Unifor stands firmly with trans, non-binary, two-spirited, and gender-diverse people.
The Trans Day of Visibility is a call-to-action. Recognizing human rights should not always be about defending against attacks. TDOV reminds us that we have the power to lead by example, to build a more just and equitable world now and for the next generation.
Unifor is deeply saddened by the loss of life during the tragic aircraft incident at LaGuardia Airport that claimed the lives of two Air Canada Jazz pilots and injured dozens more.
Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and colleagues of the pilots who lost their lives, as well as with all those who were injured and impacted by this devastating event. This loss is being felt across the entire aviation community.
OTTAWA – Unifor leaders from across the country are in Ottawa this week, meeting with more than 75 MPs from all sitting parties to deliver the message to Protect Canadian Jobs.
“In the face of U.S. tariffs, everything is on the line for workers in Canada, and we need the federal government and all political parties to match the urgency of this moment,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We’re ready to deliver a message to protect Canadian jobs, our country’s industrial economy, and defend trade union rights.”
Members gathered at the Unifor office in Halifax on March 20 to recognize the upcoming International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and take part in the Unifor Atlantic Black, Indigenous, and Workers of Colour (BIWOC) Committee workshop, Silence Hate.
Members heard from retired Halifax Regional Police Detective Constable Craig Upshaw, the first full-time Hate Crime Investigator in Atlantic Canada and a former Diversity Officer. Upshaw provides education and training in hate, equity, diversity and inclusion.
March 22 marks World Water Day—an annual reminder that access to safe, clean drinking water is a basic human right, not a privilege.
The meteoric rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years has presented new challenges for water resource management. The massive data centres that make AI possible require massive amounts of water to cool hardware. How are federal, provincial, and municipal governments determining access to clean water for some of the world's wealthiest tech corporations and how does that impact existing domestic water priorities?
On March 11, Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier addressed more than 150 leaders gathered at the Forestry Communities Forum organized by the “Fédération québécoise des municipalités” (FQM), bringing forward the voice of the workers who sustain the forestry sector in every region of Quebec.
At a time marked by mill closures, layoffs and growing uncertainty, he stressed the need for a decisive shift toward higher value-added production and highlighted the importance of developing the Canadian domestic market to help offset the loss of access to the U.S. market.
Racism remains deeply rooted in our country and communities, and it is the responsibility of trade unionists to confront and eliminate it and all forms of oppression that seek to divide workers.
People around the world recognise March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to honour and remember the victims of the Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa.
A group of 75 call centre workers just became Unifor’s newest telecom unit after saying, “enough is enough” with unfair pay and a lack of accountability from management
“It’s a brave thing to do, to form a union with your co-workers and take that concrete action to improve your working conditions,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “That’s exactly what these call centre workers did when they reached out to our union, they took the first step towards having a better job.”
MISSISSAUGA — Unifor is sounding the alarm after Boart Longyear, a global mining services company with operations in Canada since the 1930s, told workers it will close its Mississauga manufacturing facility and move operations to China, eliminating 40 unionized jobs.
OTTAWA, ON, MARCH 13, 2026 - The Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council acknowledges that many of the government’s priorities and those identified by key partners, are reflected in Canada’s 2026 – 2030 Sustainable Jobs Action Plan tabled on February 23, 2026. The Council remains committed to consulting with Canadians and providing advice on the creation and protection of sustainable jobs, work we believe is needed now more than ever.
Members of Unifor Local 27 have ratified a new three-year collective agreement with their pharmaceutical employer Catalent in Strathroy, Ont., by 94%.
“This strong ratification vote shows that Unifor members at Catalent stood together and won meaningful improvements,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“The gains in this contract recognize the essential work these members do in pharmaceutical production and reflect the power of collective bargaining to deliver real results for workers and their families.”
Nearly 125 Unifor members at Community Living Dryden–Sioux Lookout have ratified new collective agreements that improve care and provide significant improvements to wages, benefits and working conditions.
This month, Unifor heads to the bargaining table on behalf of nearly 2,000 hospital workers across north-eastern and north-western Ontario, with a strong mandate to strengthen wages, improve working conditions and recognize the essential work performed by frontline health care staff.
“This round of bargaining is about making sure the people who keep northern hospitals running are treated with the respect they deserve,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
Unifor Media Director Randy Kitt and Friends of Canadian Media Executive Director Raj Shoan warned the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on March 10, 2026, that the collapse of local news outlets is creating a growing democratic deficit, calling for stronger enforcement of media laws, expanded tax credits and protections for journalism in the age of AI.
Arbitration ruling orders CN to reinvest in Transcona
Dear Members,
Unifor has won a major arbitration ruling ordering CN to reinvest and reopen the Transcona Wheel Shop, compensate affected workers and return the bargaining unit work after it was outsourced to the United States- a serious violation of the collective agreement.
WINNIPEG – Unifor has won a major arbitration ruling ordering CN to reinvest in the Transcona Wheel Shop, compensate affected workers and return rail work to in-house production in Canada after violating the collective agreement.
