All News

Unifor celebrates five years of activism at Canadian Council

August 16, 2018

HALIFAX - Unifor will celebrate five years of activism at the union’s Canadian Council, taking place August 17-19 at the Halifax Convention Centre, 1650 Argyle Street.

“In five short years Unifor members have made their mark in every region of the country,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “I’m incredibly proud of the achievements made in advancing the labour movement and in moving the dial on both political and social policies.”

New agreement ends 129 day strike at Port Arthur Health Centre

August 16, 2018

THUNDER BAY – After 129 days on the picket line, a collective agreement and a return to work agreement have been reached to end the strike at the Port Arthur Health Centre.

“This has been four difficult months and I have great admiration for the 65 women who stood strong and showed such resilience in their efforts to get the employer back to the table,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

More workers join Unifor

Unifor’s Organizing Department has brought more than 600 workers into the union in the past month, at workplaces in Ontario and Nova Scotia...

Health Care Workers Awarded Increase in Shift Premiums

August 15, 2018

Mediator / Arbitrator William Kaplan awarded union members in the Health Care Bargaining Unit an increase in shift and weekend premiums.

Health Care Bargaining Unit members were awarded a 50 cent per hour increase to their current hourly premium rate. These premiums are added compensation earned when employees are assigned to work on evenings, overnights or weekends.

The increase will be implemented as follows:

Bargaining Update

Mediator / Arbitrator William Kaplan awarded people in the health care bargaining unit an increase in shift and weekend premiums.

Health Care workers were awarded an increase of 50 cents per hour above their current hourly wage. Shift premiums are added compensation earned when people are assigned to work on evenings, overnights or weekends.

The increase will be implemented as follows:

Tentative agreement reached with Port Arthur Health Centre

August 14, 2018
THUNDER BAY –Unifor Local 229 has reached a tentative agreement with doctors at the Port Arthur Health Centre that if ratified, would end a 128 day strike.
“We have repeatedly said that the employer just needed to sit down and bargain and I am so proud of these 65 incredible women for their resolve over the last four months,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Unifor opposes Nav Canada bylaw changes

Unifor has called on the Minister of Transportation to veto bylaw changes at Nav Canada that would open the organization’s management...

Towards a Zero Plastic Waste Canada

In Canada, nearly 90 per cent of plastics end up incinerated, or in our landfills, lakes, parks and oceans. Once in the environment, they contaminate

Collective agreement with East Coast Credit Union ratified

August 13, 2018

ANTIGONISH– Unifor members at three East Coast Credit Union (ECCU) branches in Nova Scotia voted 97 per cent to ratify a new collective agreement.

“I am so proud of the bargaining committee for their strength and solidarity to stand up for members’ pension benefits that were gained over many years at the bargaining table,” said Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director.

Unifor Local 2107 represents 44 full and part time workers, mostly women, in Antigonish, New Glasgow and St. Andrews.

Port Arthur Health Care Centre returns to bargaining

August 13, 2018

THUNDER BAY – Unifor local 229 is pleased that the board of the Port Arthur Heath Care Centre has agreed to return to the bargaining table tomorrow.

"We are looking forward to sitting down to engage in a constructive dialogue and hope to reach an agreement that meets the needs of both parties and puts an end to a labour dispute that is entering its 19th week,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Bargaining could resume next week to end Thunder Bay strike

August 10, 2018

THUNDER BAY – Unifor is optimistic bargaining will resume next week to end a 124 day long strike after Unifor ended a brief disruption of services at the Port Arthur Health Centre.

“All we have wanted to do for 19 weeks is to sit down and bargain a fair agreement with the doctors who own the centre and we hope they will seize this opportunity,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Unifor Local 229 represents 65 women who work as appointment secretaries, medical aides and in medical records at the centre.

Unifor makes offer to settle health centre strike

August 9, 2018
THUNDER BAY – Unifor has presented an offer to the Port Arthur Health Centre to settle the 124 day long strike by 65 women, members of Unifor Local 229.
“This offer is fair to both sides, and more importantly would pave the way to quickly reopen the health centre so patients can get the health care they need,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
“All we need now is for the doctors to return the table and negotiate a final agreement.”

Canadian Council: One-week countdown

Unifor locals from across Canada will send delegates to Halifax next week for Canadian Council. Even if you are not attending, there are many ways...

Mediator/Arbitrator's Award Issued

An award has been issued by Mediator / Arbitrator William Kaplan which concludes a collective agreement for more than 6,000 employees in the Health Care Bargaining Unit at the NSHA and the IWK Children’s hospital.

The process leading to this arbitration award began nearly two years ago when the Council of Health Care Unions began to negotiate 16 collective agreements down to one each for the IWK and NSHA. 

After more than 50 negotiating sessions with employer over two years we agreed to this mediation arbitration process which began with the Health Care bargaining unit.

Rally to support workers locked out 597 days

August 7, 2018

GANDER - Union members from across Atlantic Canada showed solidarity with Local 597 members at D-J Composites today to mark the 597th day of a shameful lock out.

“The workers of D-J Composites have shown remarkable strength and resolve in the 19 months since they were locked out by their employer,” said FFAW-Unifor President Keith Sullivan at the rally.  “This situation has exposed the complete inadequacy of our province’s labour laws when it comes to protecting the rights of workers when employers decide to trample on those rights.”

Workers to surround clinic on day 121 of Thunder Bay Strike

THUNDER BAY - After 121 days on a picket line, 65 workers at the Port Arthur Health Centre are taking a stand against an employer who refuses to negotiate.
“The doctors who own this Centre have repeatedly refused to return to negotiations for more than four months now. Enough is enough,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We gave plenty of notice that if they did not come back to bargaining, we would shut the clinic down, unfortunately that means disrupting service to patients.”