WINGHAM— Unifor is intensifying efforts against Wescast Industries and its owner, Bohong Industries Group based in China, as the company continues to withhold approximately $10 million in termination and severance pay from 200 workers who lost their jobs at the Wingham, Ontario facility in July 2023.
WINNIPEG—Unifor leaders met with Manitoba’s Minister of Finance and Energy Adrien Sala and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Tracy Schmidt to advocate for the protection and expansion of energy sector jobs, as well as to address the critical issue of fugitive methane emissions. This meeting was part of Unifor’s broader "Keep It In the Pipe" campaign, which emphasizes reducing methane emissions and ensuring good jobs remain in the pipeline.
VICTORIA— Hotel workers at the Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria have voted 92 per cent in favour of strike action, after negotiations stalled in May and the employer failed to return to the bargaining table.
The 19 members of Local 1944 at Adams & Knickle in the historic town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia gathered inside a local art studio on August 13 and ratified a new collective agreement after being up against a lockout deadline.
Honourable Andrew Furey Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador Confederation Building, East Block P.O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL Sent VIA Email
Premier Furey,
I’m reaching out today to request a meeting with you at your earliest availability to discuss the impacts of the recent SaltWire sale on media workers and on communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Unifor members of First Student Bus – which provides school bus services for English and French language schools in Cornwall and Embrun, Ont. – recently ratified their four-year contract by 91%.
LONDON—Members of Unifor Local 27 secured wage increase in a new collective agreement ratified August 9 with the warehousing firm HCL Logistics, ending an 18-day strike.
“Local 27’s fight for fairness has resulted in a contract that ensures wages and working conditions keep up with Ontario’s rising costs of living,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
The three-year contract increases wages by more than 17% by 2027. The agreement also improves health and safety procedures and augments the boot allowance.
Unifor Québec is expressing profound concern following the unexpected announcement of the forthcoming closure of Indorama Ventures' purified terephthalic acid (PTA) production facility in Montreal East, scheduled for September 2024.
On August 6, Viterra employees on strike since May 26 travelled by bus from Bécancour to the Port of Montreal to take part in a mobilization action in front of their employer's offices. Around a hundred people gathered for the event, including members of other locals who had come to lend their solidarity.
On August 8th, Unifor Local 233 organized a huge solidarity barbecue in Témiscaming in support of the workers affected by the brutal closure of the RYAM high-purity cellulose plant. The gathering, intended to denounce the unexpected closure, turned into a peaceful blockade of the Ontario-Quebec border, illustrating the deep frustration and determination of the employees and their supporters.
LONDON—Wage increases and retirement security are key highlights of a new collective agreement ratified by Unifor Local 414.
“Part-time workers deserve access to a pension. I want to congratulate Local 414 for making that a reality at Tepperman's,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
The new three-year collective agreement adds part-time workers to the pension plan and increases full-time workers’ wages by $4 per hour by 2027. The local also secured a $600 bonus ($250 for part-time workers) and an increase to the boot allowance.
ST. JOHN’S—Unifor continues to advocate for its members and their work at The Telegram in St. John’s as Postmedia moves through the process to purchase most of the assets of The Telegram’s parent company, SaltWire Network, Inc.
You can’t help but jump up and wave when it comes the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, which took place on Aug. 3 in Toronto’s Exhibition Place.
“Unifor is proud to support our members as they participate, showcase, and highlight their rich identity and culture at this year’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival while also organizing for a better more equal world,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
Bécancour, QC - Members of Unifor Local 700 working at Canadoil Forge Ltd in Bécancour went on strike on the morning of July 29. This decision was taken following unsuccessful negotiations with the employer on several crucial issues.
Unifor Local 433 members at the Residence Inn Vancouver commenced strike action on August 4, 2024, at 9 a.m. Members gave 72-hour strike notice after weeks of unsuccessful contract negotiations over fair wages, manageable workloads, and improved benefits.
"Unifor members at the Residence Inn Vancouver are striking for a fair deal,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Hospitality workers deserve the wages and benefits that reflect their hard work and dedication and are sending the employer a clear collective message.”
OTTAWA—Unifor is calling for the federal government to implement a series of tough and comprehensive measures as part of ongoing public consultations on protecting Canadian autoworkers from China’s unfair electric vehicle trade practices.
Unifor marks the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on August 9 by reaffirming our commitment to Indigenous communities through the union’s ongoing projects and initiatives.
The Honourable Arif Virani, P.C., M.P. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada @email
Dear Minister Virani,
RE: Pay Equity Act
I am writing to you today to request the allotment of additional and substantial resources to the Pay Equity Commission to ensure that the organization is fully capable of fulfilling its mandate to administer and enforce the Pay Equity Act, resolve disputes in a timely way, and ensure compliance.
Unifor held its first-ever Ontario Action Centre meeting on July 25-26, 2024, at the Unifor National Office, bringing together 65 team members from eight action centres across Ontario for an intensive two-day training session. The meeting aimed to enhance skills, foster connections, and equip Unifor representatives with tools to better support members facing a change in employment.
VANCOUVER— Hotel workers at the Residence Inn in Vancouver have given their employer 72-hour strike notice, following a 100% strike vote and weeks of contract negotiations over fair wages, lighter workloads, and improved benefits.
“The union members at the Residence Inn could not be more serious when it comes to fighting for fair wages that reflect the high cost of living in the Lower Mainland,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.
Unifor Local 636 health care members working at the Woodstock Hospital in Woodstock, Ontario, have unanimously ratified a new collective agreement that includes substantial gains and addresses key concerns raised by the members.
"I'm very proud of this agreement and all the great improvements achieved in this round of bargaining," said Jody Versteeg, chairperson. "Despite challenges such as meeting high member expectations and the employer's reluctance to set a precedent for other hospitals, the bargaining team successfully secured a favourable deal."
VANCOUVER—Unifor is calling on all levels of government to collaborate and ensure adequate public funding for BC's public transit systems.
"We need strategic collaboration to fund public transit to keep our cities moving and to support good union jobs," said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. "Governments must work together to solve this funding crisis and protect our transit systems."
On this day in 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 took effect, which laid a pathway to freeing enslaved people in British colonies across the globe, including here in Canada.
Watch what members of the union discussed, debated and celebrated at the 10th Atlantic Regional Council in June 2024. From health and safety, to organizing, and winning anti-scab legislation, every moment was spent building a stronger voice for workers.
Unifor members at the Viterra canola and soybean processing and refining plant in Bécancour, Q.C. are entering their tenth week on strike. Since the beginning of this conflict, the 85 members of Local 2022 have shown exemplary determination in the face of the employer's inadequate proposals.
The parties have continued to negotiate in the presence of a conciliator, but unfortunately the employer persists in making unacceptable offers and shows no real willingness to settle the dispute.
Unifor is proud to support the International Transport Federation (ITF)’s global campaign to create awareness around safe rates, which improve wages and conditions for road transport drivers to make roads safer for all drivers, leading up to weeklong actions the last week of August.
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