TORONTO –Unifor is concerned about Sunwing’s plan to use Canada’s temporary foreign worker program to hire pilots from countries with less rigorous training requirements, raising concerns about safety.
“Sunwing will essentially be able to use the TFWP to hire pilots who do not meet the company’s own training requirements. The company is able to do this under the guise of professing there is a labour shortage, when the real issue is investing in training for local pilots,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.
TORONTO- Unifor unequivocally condemns Minister Lecce’s imposed contract and preemptive back-to-work legislation, standing in full support of CUPE education workers.
WINNIPEG– Unionized care workers at Association for Community Living (ACL) will hold a rally to raise awareness about the extreme financial hardships facing ACL workers.
PETERBOROUGH—Job security and wage increases are key gains in a new collective agreement ratified today by Unifor Local 306-O members at Covia Canada Limited.
“As the Nephton mine’s closure approaches, it is a priority to ensure there are no negative consequences for Unifor members,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The new agreement is a terrific example of what can be done with long-term planning and respect for workers.”
REGINA—A Labour Relations Board ruling says evidence showing Co-op Refinery acted in bad faith was “too voluminous to spell out in detail”.
“Nobody is surprised by this ruling. Time and again during the lock-out the Co-op management acted without integrity and in bad faith,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.
MONTREAL—Unifor opened bargaining for a new collective agreement with CN this morning in Montreal.
“The fact is that during a time of record inflation CN is reporting record quarterly earnings,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Without our members at the helm, this company wouldn’t have been able to get even close to that, and they deserve to be compensated fairly and treated with respect.”
TORONTO—The Ontario Ministry of Health proposal to amend the Ambulance Act to employ nurses, physicians and respiratory therapists, along with paramedics for Ornge air flight ambulances will not improve patient outcomes in the province.
WINNIPEG—The Manitoba government’s refusal to fund a living wage at the Association for Community Living (ACL) has resulted in Unifor Local 468 members rejecting the employer’s latest contract offer.
“During the pandemic the Stefanson government was quick to call health care workers heroes, but at the bargaining table its totally different tone,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Offering health care workers one dollar above minimum wage will not cut it. Health care workers deserve a living wage.”
JOLIETTE, QUE. – Gathered last night – October 6, 2022 – at a special meeting, the members of Unifor Local 177 voted in favour of the conciliator’s recommendation, ending the 16-month lock-out.
“We’re proud of the determination of our members who stood strong and never gave up. Thanks to their tenacity, this conflict came to a favourable conclusion. It’s now time to heal the wounds and get back to a normal life,” said Daniel Cloutier, Unifor-Québec Director.
TORONTO-Unifor is calling on the federal government to renounce an ‘incredulous’ recommendation by the National Supply Chain Task Force to develop an alternative model of labour relations intended to diminish workers’ fundamental right to strike and to publicly recommit to basic workplace rights afforded to Canadian workers.
HALIFAX –Unifor is congratulating Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) on their long-fought victory for wage increases following today’s Nova Scotia government announcement to invest an additional $75 million annually in the sector.
“Accessible, affordable, quality child care is what underpins our workforce and it doesn’t work without living wages for ECEs,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Respecting child care workers will ensure the success of the Canada-wide $10-a-day child care plan and strengthen the Canadian economy.”
HALIFAX––Unifor has reached a tentative agreement on behalf of workers at the Autoport vehicle processing and transshipment facility, located in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia at the mouth of the Halifax harbour.
“With the united support of the membership behind them the bargaining committee was able to secure a tentative agreement that addresses key priorities for the workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
TORONTO –Unifor is disheartened that news of a court application to dissolve NordStar Capital Inc., the controlling company of Torstar and the Toronto Star, came from a media outlet, rather than the employer.
"Today's unexpected news was completely disrespectful to the hard-working Toronto Star staff who felt blindsided by this information – or rather, lack-of,” said Unifor’s National President Lana Payne. “Journalists and media workers often put their lives on the line to provide fact-based reporting to the public and they deserve better.”
TORONTO- Unifor will donate $500,000 to the Canadian Red Cross for the Hurricane Fiona in Canada Appeal in support of recovery efforts in Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec.
“The devastation in coastal and Atlantic communities cannot be overstated. Recovery efforts will be ‘all hands on deck’ and Unifor is prepared to step up and participate through what will surely be a long and difficult period,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.
TORONTO— Members at the Extendicare group of nursing homes across Ontario ratified 10 new collective agreements with precedent-setting improvements including a pilot project to move the entire workforce to full-time.
FORT MCMURRAY—A new memorandum of understanding signed with Suncor will convert 300 temporary positions into permanent jobs by the end of 2024.
“Local 707-A has done great work to secure these additional good jobs by mutual agreement with the employer,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director.
TORONTO –In light of the changes the Canadian government announced yesterday – on Sept. 26, 2022 – to drop all COVID-19 travel requirements beginning Oct. 1, 2022, Unifor is calling for ongoing and vigilant attention to the health, safety and respect of workers in that industry.
TORONTO—Wage increases and improved sick day provisions are part of a new five-year collective agreement ratified today by Unifor members at Loomis Express.
“Unifor is a strong union for courier industry workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Time and again, Loomis Express workers have identified policies that will improve working conditions and bargained skillfully to achieve new gains.”
OWEN SOUND —School bus drivers represented by Unifor Local 4268 have reached a tentative agreement with First Student Owen Sound, Kincardine/Port Elgin.
“As the leading union for Ontario’s school bus sector, it’s important that Unifor continues to raise the bar for these critically important workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “These negotiations were protracted and I thank the bargaining committee for their dedication in securing a tentative agreement for our members.”
ST. JOHN’S, NL – FFAW-Unifor, the largest private sector trade-union in the province, is launching a campaign focused on health and safety issues affecting members. The campaign will run throughout the fall months and will highlight key topics with the goal of bringing change from legislation makers and employers.
HALIFAX- Unifor members at Bell Aliant voted to accept a new collective agreement, ending an 8-month negotiation period.
“Telecommunications workers were razor-focused throughout these talks. The members demanded fair wage increases and commitments to keep good union jobs here in Atlantic Canada,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.
The 4-year tentative agreement was reached with Bell on September 9, 2022 and was presented to members for a vote on September 13 and 14, 2022.
VANCOUVER—Wage increases and shift premiums are highlights of a new collective agreement ratified September 14 by Unifor members at Purdy’s Chocolatier.
“This contract makes important gains for workers struggling to cope with the rising cost of living in Metro Vancouver,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director.
OWEN SOUND —School bus drivers at First Student have voted overwhelmingly to support strike action if negotiations with the company fail to produce a new collective agreement.
“This is a job with tremendous responsibility, not a hobby, but companies continue to ask drivers for a full-time commitment for a part-time pay,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “It’s time for these drivers to be treated with the respect that they deserve.”
SASKATOON—Unifor Local 609 members responsible for operating and maintaining the light beam at the Canadian Light Source have applied for mediation after the employer refused to address concerns about inflation eroding their wages.
TORONTO- Unifor supports federal government moves to address the affordability crisis but calls for more comprehensive solutions to support Canada’s workers.
TORONTO –A jury adopted several of Unifor’s safety and process recommendations to help prevent future death and injury to miners following an inquiry into the October 15, 2015 workplace death of Sudbury miner Richard Pigeau.
“The jury’s safety, support and training recommendations must be implemented immediately as they are necessary to protect workers in the mining sector,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “One worker’s death is one too many. These practical changes can save lives and prevent injury.”
CALGARY – Bargaining for a new collective agreement began this morning in Calgary between Unifor Local 101R and Canadian Pacific (CP).
“Our members have worked tirelessly day in and night across the country, in helping CP earn record profits,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “It is our expectation that CP rewards our members with the fair and equitable wage increases that they deserve.”
VANCOUVER—Unifor Local 2000’s bargaining committee has secured a tentative agreement with Purdy’s Chocolatier during negotiations that went down to the deadline set by the union.
“I’m proud of the solidarity and the work done by Local 2000 members to reach a tentative deal that advances their goals,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director.
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