TILLSONBURG, ONTARIO—Auto parts workers at the Autoneum plant in Tillsonburg, Ontario went on strike today after union members rejected the company’s offer.
“For more than fifty years, workers at the Tillsonburg plant have been an important part of the local economy and a vital part of the province’s auto parts supply chain,” said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director. “Unifor Local 1859 members have the full support of our union’s 315,000 members in this dispute.”
VANCOUVER—After the latest rejection of the employer’s offer by the Unifor Local 114 membership, the parties have agreed to the province's appointment of Vince Ready as a special mediator.
“After two years of bargaining and failed sessions with a mediator, it’s clear a more structured process is necessary,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “We look forward to making submissions to the mediator about the high cost of living and wage disparities.”
TORONTO – A survey of journalists and media worker members of Unifor has found high levels of online and in-person harassment on the job, and the problem is only getting worse.
“The results of this survey are simply devastating,” said Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer Lana Payne, a former journalist.
“We are seeing increasing attacks on media workers who are simply doing their jobs – jobs that are vital to a functioning democracy. We cannot tolerate this any longer.”
VANCOUVER—B.C. Transit’s third-party contractor PW Transit failed to make enough progress on wage parity, resulting in a membership-driven rejection of Friday’s tentative agreement, says Unifor.
“Members have the final say in adopting the contract that governs their working conditions,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “Clearly the employer fell short in closing the gap that exists between transit workers doing the same job in Vancouver and the Sea to Sky region.”
WINNIPEG—Unifor is urging the Government of Manitoba to accelerate its plans to increase the minimum wage, calling for $15 per hour be the standard by the end of the 2022.
“Premier Heather Stefanson has conceded that it’s not okay for Manitoba’s most vulnerable workers to be paid the lowest in Canada,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “Stefanson has to aim higher than ‘not the worst’. Manitoba’s workers deserve fair pay and a robust system of employment standards that protect them from greedy and unethical bosses.”
TORONTO- Unifor members at Bell Technical Solutions (BTS) voted to ratify a strong collective agreement that delivers significant improvements in benefits, RRSP contributions, and wages for members across Ontario.
VANCOUVER—The bargaining committee from Unifor Local 114 has signed a tentative agreement with B.C. Transit third-party contractor PW Transit during a mediated session of negotiations today.
TORONTO – In the face of increasing harassment of journalists and media workers online, made worse by polarizing politics and the anonymity of social media, Unifor is launching a new website to help journalists and media workers get the help they need when they need it.
“The harassment journalists face on the job is simply horrific. It is often racist and misogynist, and cannot be tolerated,” said Unifor Secretary-Treasurer Lana Payne, herself a former journalist.
TORONTO—Inadequate compensation from a profitable employer drove Unifor Local 999 members to begin a legal strike at 12:01 a.m. on May 25, 2022.
“We refuse to let inflation eat into our wages,” said Jeff Gray, President of Local 999. “We are ready to negotiate a resolution but it must ensure our wages are protected.”
CALGARY–GardaWorld workers at the Calgary airport voted overwhelmingly to join Canada’s largest private sector union late Thursday night.
“We’re thrilled to welcome GardaWorld workers to the Unifor family,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “Unifor is committed to improving working conditions and providing skilled representation during bargaining.”
There were 704 GardaWorld security agents who chose Unifor over CLAC in a representation vote held on May 16 to 19, 2022.
MONTREAL – The tentative agreement reached last weekend was ratified by 89.5% of Unifor union members working in Resolute Forest Products' paper mills.
“The result clearly shows the agreement meets the expectations of our members, which were significant in this round of negotiations,” said Renaud Gagné, Unifor Quebec Director. “And most importantly, the many gains made will help attract and maintain the workforce the industry needs.”
This new contract will now serve as a model for the entire sector. Highlights include:
EDMONTON—After Jason Kenney’s snap resignation, working people in Alberta are eager to move on to elect a new premier who will stand up for their rights and create a more equal province, says Unifor.
WHISTLER—Unifor is encouraged that the employer has agreed to meet again with a mediator to negotiate an end to the 15-week-old job action at PW Transit in Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton.
“Mediation in the context of free collective bargaining is how this dispute is going to be solved,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “We’re eager to get back to the bargaining table and find a resolution as soon as possible.”
TORONTO—Unifor members at Metro Distribution Centre warehouses have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new collective agreement that delivers substantial wage increases and a groundbreaking prescription drug plan to 225 part-time workers.
“We are pleased to say this collective agreement recognizes the work and commitment these employees bring to the success of the Metro chain,” said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director.
HALIFAX - Talks between the Health Support Bargaining Unit, led by Unifor, and Nova Scotia Health and the IWK have reached an impasse, with unions filing for conciliation in hopes of securing a new collective agreement for more than 3,000 health care workers across the province.
TORONTO – The Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA), Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), and Unifor are launching a public campaign calling on the Government of Canada to secure the safe return of five Canadians who have been arbitrarily imprisoned in the Dominican Republic after reporting a crime they were not involved in.
MONTREAL– Unifor reached a tentative agreement on May 14 with Resolute Forest Products, the company targeted to renegotiate the industry’s pattern contract.
“In the current context of labour shortages and soaring inflation, it was necessary to ensure competitive and attractive working conditions, which was our main challenge,” said Renaud Gagné, Quebec Director of Unifor and union spokesperson at the bargaining table. “We are confident we have reached the best possible agreement under the circumstances. It’s now up to the members.”
THUNDER BAY– Long-term care workers, families of residents, community members banded together for the Thunder Bay LTC Day of Action.
“Our heroes in health care are burnt out and struggling to keep up in long-term care homes,” said Katha Fortier, Assistant to Unifor’s National President. “PSWs and other workers who have worked through what can only be described as a humanitarian crisis are leaving the industry in droves. Fortier continues” Poor compensation, lack of full time work and COVID-19 have just made a bad situation worse.”
Mediation failed today after B.C. Transit’s third-party contractor PW Transit was unwilling to collaborate with workers on aroadmap to wage parity, says Unifor.
TORONTO –Pilots are objecting to a new Sunwing Airlines policy that stops paying them if flights are stuck on the tarmac due to long line-ups at airport customs.
“If pilots are onboard, they’re working and they deserve to be paid,” said Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to the Unifor National President.
In other Canadian airlines, pilots from long-haul international flights have mostly been staying onboard with pay, while short-haul pilots have been getting off their aircrafts.
TORONTO–Unifor school bus driver members have achieved wage gains and improved guaranteed hours in a new three-year collective agreement with Stock Transportation.
“This new contract addresses key priorities for our drivers, including wages, paid time for pre and post trip duties and fairer scheduling,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi.
The 500 members of Local 4268, who predominantly provide transportation services for special needs students in the Toronto area, voted to ratify the new contract on May 10, 2022.
Napanee, ON – Unifor is outraged after members returned to work following a nearly 6-month long strike at Napanee’s Lennox and Addington Interval House, only to be wrongfully terminated.
“The women of LAIH went on strike to improve their working conditions and the services that they deliver. To be met with these unfair and unjustified terminations upon return to work is shameful behaviour from an employer that claims to espouse equity and justice,” said Katha Fortier, Unifor Assistant to the National President.
WHISTLER—Unifor and the employer have jointly agreed to resume negotiations with mediator Dave Schaub on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 to seek a resolution to the 14-week transit strike in the Sea to Sky corridor.
“Transit workers have demonstrated incredible determination over the last three months,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “We will enter these new negotiations in good faith and will continue to bargain for fair compensation.”
TORONTO–Unifor Local 4268 has reached a tentative agreement with Stock Transportation on behalf of 500 school bus drivers in the Toronto Area, averting strike action.
“I congratulate the bargaining committee on negotiating a tentative agreement for these frontline workers who provide such a vital service to students across Toronto,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi. “As Ontario’s school bus driver union, Unifor will continue to address key issues including wages and uncompensated duties and to work to raise standards for drivers across the sector.”
“We’re asking members, and all voters, not to let Doug Ford speak for them in this election,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi. “Time and time again, Ford and his conservatives have let workers down. In this election, we’re not going to fall for his projection of a worker-friendly image.”
REGINA—Unifor has re-issued its call for the Saskatchewan government to immediately increase minimum wage to at least $15 per hour to match neighbouring Alberta.
“Premier Scott Moe has kept Saskatchewan’s minimum wage artificially low,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “Something is wrong when working full-time for the minimum wage in Saskatchewan doesn’t get you above the poverty line.”
WINDSOR—Unifor welcomes today’s announcement that funding for Stellantis Windsor, Brampton and related technology facilities will top $3.6 billion with federal and provincial government support, securing good union jobs and a bright future for autoworkers across Ontario and accelerating Canada’s electric vehicle transition.
“This is what Unifor members have worked for, and fought for, over many years,” said Shane Wark, Unifor Assistant to Unifor National President. “Today is one more step closer to Canada becoming a global automotive powerhouse once again.”
Toronto- Health Canada announced their approval of the Canadian Blood Services’ (CBS) move to behaviour-based screening questions for blood donations, ending the homophobic blood ban.
“This announcement is a long-fought victory for workers and advocates, and for Canada’s safe supply of blood and tissue donations. These new policies will now reflect science, not outdated and discriminatory assumptions,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer.
Today’s announcement did not include a timeline of the same regulatory change for Héma-Québec.
TORONTO- Premier Ford’s faux provincial budget, tabled today in the Legislature, missed the mark for workers, forming a weak foundation to the Progressive Conservatives’ election platform.
Accessibility
Documents can be requested in alternative/accessible formats by emailing communications@unifor.org
