Unifor supports UAW in negotiations for a fair contract with GM
September 15, 2019
Unifor supports the United Auto Workers (UAW) in negotiations for a fair contract settlement with General Motors (GM). The UAW has announced that its 49,000 GM members will commence strike action at midnight, following the expiration of the union’s collective agreement with the automaker.
First, let’s talk about the lessons we can take from the Manitoba election this week, which saw Brian Pallister’s Conservatives return for a second majority government, as we head into a new federal election.
The good news is that this is, at least, a reduced majority. The NDP led by Wab Kinew gained seven seats for a total of 18, and elected Manitoba’s first black members of the legislature and Kinew was returned as the first Indigenous Official Opposition leader.
Hundreds of members of the Windsor community and people from across Ontario assembled near the Nemak plant in solidarity with workers protesting the company’s decision to break the collective agreement by announcing their intention to close the plant.
WINNIPEG—Canada’s largest union in the private sector has vowed to continue to fight for public Manitoba Hydro, health care, and other valued public services.
“Manitoba Hydro is a fantastic public utility that hundreds of thousands of Manitobans and Manitoba businesses rely on,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “It delivers affordable power and good jobs. Strengthening Manitoba Hydro and health care should be a priority for the next government.”
VANCOUVER—Fish harvesters and allied workers from British Columbia’s coast are sounding the alarm about an unfolding disaster in the salmon fishing industry that has led to widespread closures and economic hardship.
“Small coastal communities are suffering from the worst commercial fishing season in fifty years,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Region Director. “No matter the region and no matter the salmon species, runs have plummeted. It’s a crisis and governments must act to support workers and their communities.”
The Bargaining Committee has an update for members on the negotiation process as it relates to MRP.
As you know, Mobile Repair Party involves workers travelling to a site anywhere in the world to perform work on IMP customer equipment.
Historically our MRP process has been a voluntary one and although there is language in the agreement which the company believes allows them to force members out of plant, it has never been used or relied on by the company in that manner.
TORONTO- Lana Payne, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer, will speak to thousands of Unifor members at the union’s annual Labour Day rally in Toronto. Media and the public are invited to attend a family-friendly rally and march, featuring Unifor leadership and activists on Labour Day in Toronto. “On Labour Day, we come together to appreciate the hard-fought gains of working people,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer.
VANCOUVER - Unifor urges the B.C. government to expedite the process of introducing paid domestic violence leave so it will no longer be one of the last holdouts in supporting Canadian women in receiving this much-needed support.
KAMLOOPS—Members of Unifor Local 10-B working for Dearborn Ford (a subsidiary of Cam Clark Auto Group) have voted overwhelmingly to reject the company’s so-called “final” offer, bringing the bargaining closer to job action.
“Cam Clark Auto Group doesn’t get it: we are not taking concessions. We will only settle for fairness,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
TORONTO— Unifor forestry members are urging the province to take immediate action in the efforts to re-start the Fort Frances pulp and paper mill, and protect the rights of the publicly-owned forestlands in the region.
Unifor warns contract chaos is threatening reliable school bus service in the Durham and Kawartha regions, just days before the school year is set to resume.
Jerry Dias was acclaimed as National President of Unifor and Lana Payne was chosen as Secretary-Treasurer of Unifor at the union’s National Convention in Quebec City.
QUEBEC – Thousands of workers rallied outside Bell Canada headquarters in Quebec City, demanding an end to job erosion.
“Bell benefits from the hard work and innovation of Unifor members,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Instead of treating them with respect, the company has continually eroded our jobs and inflicts a stressful work environment on current employees.”