All News

MONTREAL- Unifor, Canada's largest private sector union, today introduced the union’s vision for the future of the aerospace sector.  

Presented by Unifor National President Lana Payne and Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier the policy initiative aims to raise awareness of the union's priorities for action in industrial and workforce development at a time when the sector is struggling to regain momentum since the end of the pandemic.

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, an observance that honours the survivors of residential schools and remembers those who did not return home. Known as Orange Shirt Day, this day draws its name from the story of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, whose orange shirt—a gift from her grandmother—was confiscated on her first day at a residential school in 1973.

On October 1, Unifor celebrates the International Day of Older Persons. This year’s theme from the United Nations is Aging with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide.

Unifor members and locals from coast-to-coast are set to celebrate this year’s Canadian Council from Sept. 27 to 29 at the Montreal Convention Centre.

“We are so excited to showcase worker power, solidarity, and all of the wins over the last year in our union,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 

“While the work never stops, it’s important to pause and acknowledge all the solidarity we’ve built and continue to build. There’s an energy that all of us being together brings.”

MONTREAL- Unifor invites media to attend the release of the union’s new aerospace policy. The policy presents Unifor's vision for the aerospace sector and proposes a number of industrial policy recommendations to address current and future challenges identified in the industry.

This event will be attended by Lana Payne, Unifor National President, and Daniel Cloutier, Unifor Quebec Director, who will discuss the impacts and challenges of this new strategic direction.

Unifor has brought together experts, union leaders and rank and file union members to put together a worker-led plan for Canada's aerospace industry.

World News Day on September 28 is a global initiative that spotlights the role journalists play in providing trustworthy news and information. 

This year it will also draw awareness to the turmoil and threats facing the industry, which undermine citizens and democracy all over the world. 

Every year, our union marks World News Day because we believe it is impossible to improve the conditions of work, and the conditions of the world, without trusted news sources.

Dear Members,

Unifor Local 100 and Council 4000 bargaining committees have officially opened negotiations with CN Rail this week. 

These initial discussions mark the beginning of a critical bargaining process for over 3600 members across the country.

OTTAWA— Unifor is pleased to see that Bill S-244, An Act to Amend the Department of Employment and Social Development Act and the Employment Insurance Act was introduced in the House of Commons today.

“Employment Insurance is the most important income security program for workers in Canada, and is in desperate need of reform,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 

MONTREAL— Unifor Local 100 and Council 4000 have officially opened negotiations with CN Rail, representing more than 3,600 rail workers across the country, with key priorities focused on improvements to wages, pensions, benefits and work ownership protection for rail workers.

September 23, 2024 - VANCOUVER—Leaders from Unifor, the United Steelworkers (USW), and the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) met last week with representatives from Iskum Investments (Iskum) to discuss deeper collaboration to bring about changes to an unpredictable forestry industry that could

INGERSOLL—Unifor members at the CAMI Assembly and Battery Assembly plants have ratified a new collective agreement with General Motors that achieves significant pay increases, delivers the momentous gains in Unifor’s Detroit Three pattern and eliminates a historic pay lag with counterparts at other Canadian GM facilities.

Unifor has called on Federal Minister of Labour Steve MacKinnon to assist in bringing about a collective agreement to end the 142-day long labour dispute at Best Theratronics.

Today, Best Theratronics workers and Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi met with MacKinnon to discuss the unfair labour practices employed by company owner Krishnan Suthanthiran that have needlessly prolonged the months long strike.

Following several months of strike action and determined resistance to the employer, Unifor members working at Viterra voted 78% in favour to ratify a new collective agreement, putting an end to the labour dispute.  

Watch Unifor National President Lana Payne at the Standing Committee on International Trade today, calling for bold actions to protect Canadian jobs in EV production from China, which exploits workers and undermines fair trade practices.

Unifor members and supporters rallied with the PSAC and a delegation of locked-out Vidèotron workers from Gatineau at Best Theratronics, a nuclear facility in Kanata that manufactures medical equipment. 

Our union’s frustration grows with the company owner’s refusal to bargain a new collective agreement. 

Best Theratronics owner and proclaimed billionaire Krishnan Suthanthiran offered members a two-year wage freeze that workers wholeheartedly rejected. 

INGERSOLL- Unifor has reached a tentative collective agreement with General Motors that covers more than 1,300 members at the company’s CAMI Assembly and Battery Assembly facilities in Ingersoll, Ontario.

“Congratulations to our bargaining committee for their incredible work at the bargaining table. Every member of our team was instrumental in fighting for and winning this tentative agreement on behalf of all Unifor Local 88 members at CAMI,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.  

INGERSOLL— Unifor is extending the negotiation deadline with General Motors (GM) on behalf of members of Unifor Local 88 at the CAMI Assembly plant and Battery Assembly facility in Ingersoll, Ontario beyond the current contract expiration at 10:59 p.m. today. 

VANCOUVER—British Columbia's forestry workers will take part in the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference as part of a campaign to strengthen and secure good paying jobs in the industry.

“Dozens of local governments across the province are experiencing the difficulties of the forestry industry’s contraction,” said Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle. “We invite municipal leadership to be a part of the solution.”

Even though the media industry continues to struggle with job losses, cutbacks and closures, a hopeful future where media workers and journalists continue to fight for their industry prevailed at the 30th annual Unifor Media Council from Sept. 13 to 15 in Port Elgin, Ont.

SCARBOROUGH, ONT.–The 180 members of Unifor Local 303 walked off the job Sept. 14, just after midnight after their employer, Trench Ltd. refused to negotiate sufficient wage and benefit improvements.  

“We stand by the bargaining committee and our members as they continue to fight for the needs that matter most to them,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.  “These are workers who are responsible for providing materials for public sector electrical utilities and they deserve good jobs and fair wages. We won’t stop until the employer recognizes that.”

Ian Edwards
CEO, AtkinsRéalis 
 

Dear Mr. Edwards,

Re: SPEA-Unifor Local 7474 and AtkinsRéalis

HALIFAX—Members of the Health Care bargaining Council at Nova Scotia Health (NSH) and IWK Health Centre voted today to accept a tentative agreement brought forward by their bargaining committee by 79%. 

TORONTO—Workers at Walmart’s Mississauga warehouse have voted to join Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union. It is Walmart’s first warehouse to unionize in Canada.

"This victory is the result of uniting around a belief in workplace democracy and better working conditions,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Walmart workers in Mississauga stood up for their rights, and we are excited to get to work on their first collective agreement.”

HALIFAX—In an historic move, the Nova Scotia government has taken a leadership role in the awareness and prevention of intimate partner violence (IPV) declaring IPV an epidemic. The passing of legislation the same day it was tabled is both a symbolic and tangible demonstration of the ability of government to focus fully to protect and support Nova Scotians.

The new three-year agreement includes significant improvements to wages, benefits including vacation, health and safety language, a new grievance procedure, paid education leave, and new Women’s Advocate and Racial Justice Advocate positions. 

KANATA, ONT.—Unifor members on strike at Best Theratronics held a rally today outside of the Kanata facility, continuing to stand in solidarity to demand their employer stop violating laws and return to the bargaining table.

“Nothing makes my blood boil more than when employers threaten workers’ livelihoods, blatantly violate labour laws, and refuse to respect workers right to a union. This is Canada. Workers have rights,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

Unifor understands that Local Unions are deeply involved in the grievance and arbitration system while representing their members. Part of this involves research, and access to available databases can be very costly.

That’s why the union has teamed up with Lancaster House to offer locals access to an annual subscription to their First Resort service at a reduced price, as a tool to help with the arbitration process.

KANATA, ON. – Unifor will hold a solidarity rally tomorrow, Sept. 11, at Best Theratronics, a nuclear facility in Kanata that manufactures medical equipment, as the union’s frustration grows with the company owner’s refusal to bargain a new collective agreement. 

MISSISSAUGA—Workers at Walmart’s warehouse facility will begin voting to join Unifor Tuesday, September 10. 

“Hundreds of workers at Walmart are demanding safer work, better pay, and improved benefits,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “A vote for the union this week is the best way for workers to get a level playing field with a corporate giant.”