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Province appoints special mediator in Co-op Refinery dispute

February 12, 2020

REGINA—Unifor welcomes the appointment of renowned mediator Vince Ready by Saskatchewan Labour Minister Don Morgan to assist in reaching a collective agreement with Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) to end the 69-day lockout at the refinery.

Unifor outraged at Regina Police denial of lawful picket

February 07, 2020 REGINA – Unifor is outraged at the actions of the Regina Police Service to deny lawful picketing by locked-out workers at Co-op Refinery. “Regina Police blocking access to picket locations at the bidding of Co-op Refinery is a clear violation of Charter rights,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. This morning Regina Police blocked access on Ninth Avenue North between McDonald and Winnipeg streets to all picketers while escorting Co-op trucks through to the refinery as uniformed officers checked the trucker’s names off lists at the barriers.

Schlegel long-term care workers speak about breakdown in negotiations

February 7, 2020

WINDSOR– Members of Unifor Local 2458 at Schlegel long-term care facilities will be available to speak to media with details on the breakdown in negotiations with the employer.

“The success of these negotiations must be the dignified care of long-term care residents through proper respect paid to the workers who provide them hands-on care each and every day – anything less than that is unacceptable,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. 

Members of the media are invited to attend the media availability:

Unifor 594 outlines plan to go back to work Monday

REGINA –Today Unifor outlined a path to immediately end the lockout at the Co-op Refinery and return Local 594 members back to work as early as Monday.

“The decision by Co-op Refinery to lock out its employees is hurting not just the workers but the people of Saskatchewan and Co-op could easily end it today,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

Unifor is calling for the Saskatchewan government to agree to the appointment of a mediator with the power to implement a binding settlement. 

The path to end the lockout includes:

Talks break off between Unifor and Co-op

REGINA—Federated Co-operatives Limited’s newest refusal to bargain in good faith demonstrates a new level of company dishonesty, says Unifor.

“Saskatchewan workers have the right to stand up to greedy employers like this one— but Co-op continues to add new concessions to attack refinery workers,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Rogue Co-op executives never had any intention of bargaining- Premier Moe needs to wake up and show some leadership.”

Unifor to comment on stalled Co-op negotiations

REGINA—The union representing locked-out refinery workers will hold a media conference at 10 a.m. to report on the status of the protracted labour dispute.

 “We want a to find common ground for a fair contract, but Co-op has not moved off of the same insulting concessions first tabled last year,” said Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to the National President and lead negotiator.

Members of the media are invited to attend the media availability:

What: Media Availability

Unifor members ratify agreement with Grand River Transit

January 30, 2020 KITCHENER – Unifor Local 4304 members working at Grand River Transit have ratified a new collective agreement with the transit service, bringing strike action to an end. “Unifor is the union for transit workers in Canada, and this collective agreement shows that we can negotiate the contracts that best address the needs of transit workers,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “Our bargaining committee was committed to addressing the priorities of members leading into this set of negotiations, and that is reflected in the results.

Unifor offers to abide by injunction to get back to bargaining table

REGINA—Unifor agreed to comply with the injunction concerning the Co-op Refinery picket line if Federated Co-operatives Limited returns to the bargaining table and bargains with the union in good faith.

“In a statement today, FCL said that it was willing to bargain if the union abides by the injunction. If Co-op agrees to meet with us at the table at 10 a.m. on January 30 then we will abide by the order at that time. We want a deal,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Jerry Dias to respond to Co-op FCL’s latest excuse to avoid bargaining

January 29, 2020

REGINA—Unifor National President Jerry Dias will give an update to media at 4:30 p.m., responding to Federated Cooperatives Limited (FCL) recent statements concerning the now 55-day lockout.

Nearly 800 highly skilled members of Unifor Local 594 remain locked out from the Co-op Refinery after refusing to accept major concessions. 

Members of the media are invited to attend the media availability:

What:                  Media Availability 

Unifor applauds recommendation for regulation of internet TV

Unifor applauds the call to require internet TV services that access the Canadian market to support Canadian content, as recommended in the final report of the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review Panel (BTLRP).

Unifor and GRT reach new tentative agreement

January 28, 2020 WATERLOO REGION – Unifor Local 4304 and Grand River Transit (GRT) have reached a new tentative collective agreement, following more than a week of strike action at the transit utility. “On the line, and throughout bargaining, members were united in their call to improve safety and working conditions. That message was clearly heard,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

Unifor supports request for Northern Pulp decision Supreme Court review

January 23, 2020

HALIFAX – Unifor has joined with Northern Pulp and nine individuals representing the broader forestry industry in a request for judicial review filed today in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.  The application seeks a review of Nova Scotia Environment’s (NSE) December 17, 2019 decision regarding Northern Pulp’s proposed effluent treatment facility (ETF) project.

Unifor National President to update union’s efforts to end lockout

REGINA—Unifor’s National President Jerry Dias will provide an update on the latest development in the union’s attempt to return to the bargaining table and reach an agreement to end the 48-day lock out of nearly 800 refinery workers.

“The only way to end this dispute is to return to the bargaining table and Federated Co-operatives Limited knows this,” said Dias.

Hundreds of activists have descended on Regina this week to support Unifor Local 594 members in their fight with the Co-op Refinery after Regina Police arrested 14 people on a legal picket line.

Unifor-GRT talks break off

Talks broke off between Unifor and Grand River Transit as it became clear that the employer was not willing to offer new proposals.

Unifor outraged at extreme police escalation at Co-op Refinery

REGINA−After hundreds of Unifor members from across Canada came out to peacefully support locked out Co-op Refinery workers, the Regina Police chose to escalate the situation with heavy handed and extreme tactics, including the arrest of Unifor National President Jerry Dias and Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle.

Unifor 4304 President available to speak with media on GRT picket line

KITCHENER- Tim Jewell, Unifor Local 4304 President, will be available to speak with media as Grand River Transit employees begin strike action Tuesday morning.

“Job action is always a last resort. Transit workers face difficult working conditions, and our members are united in our goal of reaching a fair contract with Grand River Transit,” said Jewell.

Where:                 Unifor 4304 picket line, 250 Strasburg Rd, Kitchener, ON N2E 3M6

Unifor members set to strike at GRT

KITCHENER – Unifor Local 4304 members working at Grand River Transit are preparing to begin strike action after rejecting the tentative agreement negotiated with the transit service last week.

“The membership has made a very strong statement today that GRT must do better at the bargaining table,” said Local 4304 Local President Tim Jewell.

Unifor reaches tentative deal with Air Canada

TORONTO— Unifor Local 2002, the union representing customer service agents in call centres and airports, customer journey management and customer relations representatives have reached a tentative agreement with Air Canada. “Congratulations to the bargaining committee, who have worked tirelessly for more than a year to reach a fair deal for our hard-working members at Air Canada,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Unifor and GRT reach deal on new collective agreement

KITCHENER – Unifor Local 4304 and Grand River Transit have negotiated a tentative collective agreement, averting a strike at the transit utility.

“This new collective agreement ­addresses the top concerns of members and ensures that the buses will be on the road Tuesday morning,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias, who was at the talks Monday.

Canadian air traffic controllers reach tentative deal

OTTAWA—Unifor Local 5454 members who work as Canadian air traffic controllers have reached a tentative agreement with Nav Canada. “I congratulate the bargaining team for remaining united throughout this round of negotiations,” said Jerry Dias Unifor National President. “The skill shown by the bargaining team and their tenacity in reaching this tentative agreement is inspiring.” The tentative agreement will be presented to the members for ratification votes over the course of the next week.

Unifor National President to address media on GRT talks

KITCHENER – Unifor National President Jerry Dias will update the media Monday morning on the ongoing contract talks between Unifor Local 4304 and Grand River Transit. 

Dias will meet with the Local’s bargaining team that morning as they prepare for a day of bargaining ahead of a strike deadline one minute after midnight that night, and then address the media.

Premier McNeil throws away 2,700 rural jobs in Nova Scotia

December 20, 2019

HALIFAX – Unifor members at Northern Pulp are devastated following the announcement by Premier McNeil that he will not allow enough time for the company to complete the regulatory assessment requested by his own government.