All News

Arbitrator Renders Nursing Council Award

December 4, 2018

HALIFAX - Mediator-arbitrator William Kaplan has issued his award which establishes a collective agreement for approximately 7500 acute care nurses working throughout the province with the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the IWK.

The award came after mediation-arbitration which took place late last month and concludes a process that began in early September of this year. 

The new collective agreement can be found here.

Collective agreement awarded for Health Support Bargaining Unit

December 4, 2018

HALIFAX - On November 30, 2018, mediator/arbitrator William Kaplan issued an award that establishes a collective agreement for more than 4,200 employees within the Health Support Bargaining Unit at the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) and the IWK Children’s Hospital.

Members in this bargaining unit deliver services within the acute care setting such as housekeeping, dietary, engineering services, maintenance, laundry and a wide variety of other services.

Lock out at D-J Composites finally over

December  3, 2018
GANDER – Workers at D-J Composites in Gander have a new collective agreement after nearly two years locked out on a picket line after an arbitrator issued a final and binding decision.
“This shameful lockout is finally over because hundreds of Unifor members gathered in Gander to show solidarity with Local 597 to push for binding arbitration,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Jerry Dias speaks on GM and Bill 47 at Unifor Ontario Regional Council

December 01, 2018 TORONTO – Unifor National President Jerry Dias will speak on GM restructuring and the claw back of workers’ rights by Premier Doug Ford during his address to the Unifor Ontario Regional Council today. WHAT: Unifor National President Jerry Dias speaks at Ontario Regional Council WHEN: Saturday December 1, 2018 1:45 p.m. WHERE: Sheraton Centre, Grand Ballroom 123 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2M9 Media should arrive no later than 1:30 p.m.

Unifor launches provincial bargaining strategy for decent work

TORONTO – The largest union representing private sector workers in Ontario launched a province-wide bargaining strategy to fight for decent work.

 “The provincial government is acting on behalf of business to roll back our rights, but the fight for decent work belongs to workers, not just the government of the day,” said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director. “Through unity, we can raise the bar for all workers.”

MEDIA ADVISORY - Unifor Media Conference on Decent Work

November 29, 2018

TORONTO- Unifor members in Ontario to launch fight back to stop the erosion of decent work.

Media are invited to attend a news conference and rally on Friday, November 30 where Naureen Rizvi, Unifor’s Ontario Regional Director, will announce a provincial strategy to fight for decent work.

 WHO:                     Jerry Dias, Unifor National President

                               Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director

Unifor statement on GM decision to abandon Oshawa

November 29, 2018

TORONTO – Today, Unifor is releasing a detailed statement outlining the union’s position on General Motors’ decision to stop allocating product to the Oshawa Assembly Plant after 2019.

“We have outlined our comprehensive position on why GM’s announcement does not make sense for the company, this community or the workers who have delivered the highest-quality work for decades,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

December strike deadline looms for social service workers

Woodstock, ON - Workers at Welkin Child and Youth Services have voted to take strike action if a new collective agreement cannot be reached. The 40 child and youth workers and social workers are members of Unifor Local 302 and could be on strike as of December 5.

MEDIA ADVISORY - Unifor press conference

November 27, 2018

Following a meeting with the Prime Minister Trudeau about the GM restructuring announcement, Unifor President Jerry Dias will hold a press conference.

WHAT:               Unifor President Jerry Dias media availability following meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau.

WHERE:            The Charles Lynch Press Theatre (130-S)

WHEN:              1:45 p.m. Tuesday November 27, 2018

WHO:                Jerry Dias, National President of Unifor

MEDIA ADVISORY - Unifor press conference

November 26, 2018

Unifor will hold a press conference this afternoon in response to the GM restructuring announcement and its impact on the GM Oshawa Assembly Plant.

WHAT:            Unifor media conference on GM restructuring

WHERE:         Unifor Local 222, 1425 Phillip Murray Ave, Oshawa, ON

WHEN:            2:00 p.m. Monday, November 26, 2018

WHO:              Jerry Dias, National President of Unifor, Colin James, President of Local 222,

Unifor statement on Oshawa GM plant

November 25, 2018

OSHAWA - Unifor received notification today from General Motors that the company will make a major announcement tomorrow that will impact its global operations.

While the union does not have complete details of the overall announcement we have been informed that, as of now, there is no product allocated to the Oshawa Assembly Plant past December 2019.

Based on commitments made during 2016 contract negotiations, Unifor does not accept this announcement and is immediately calling on GM to live up to the spirit of that agreement.

Unifor joins Don’t Let Go Canada coalition in support of long-term space sector strategy

November 23, 2018

Toronto – Unifor has joined the Don’t Let Go Canada coalition calling on the federal government to develop a long-term space strategy.

“The federal government was an early investor in the iconic Canadarm and RADARSAT Technologies,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Our space sector can have a strong future, but just as in the past, it will require dedicated funding and a long-term strategy.”

Canada’s largest media union welcomes help for local news

November 21, 2018

TORONTO – The union representing 12,000 Canadian journalists and media workers welcomes Finance Minister Bill Mourneau’s announcement of $600 million in aid for financially struggling news organizations.

“The new labour tax credit for local journalism is what’s been needed to help save local news,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor’s National President.

Unifor condemns Progressive Conservatives' attack on workers’ rights

TORONTO- Unifor calls for increased opposition to the PC’s anti-worker agenda following adoption of Bill 47.

“Since the PCs tabled this Bill, the workers of Ontario have made it undeniably clear what our position is. Bill 47 was designed to steal the rights and benefits of working people, and hand them back to big business as profits,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “PC MPPs were asked to do the right thing and vote no, but instead they turned their backs on the people of Ontario.”

Unifor B.C. Council starts with activist momentum

Unifor members from across British Columbia are gathering at the Hyatt Regency Hotel to discuss current issues in workers’ rights and make strategic plans for the year ahead.

“From fighting for a higher minimum wage to tireless work for electoral reform in British Columbia, our members are leaders on the front lines of change,” said Joie Warnock, Unifor Western Regional Director.

Over 500 Unifor members approve Mill and Woodlands deals with Domtar

DRYDEN – More than 500 Unifor members in the Dryden-based Domtar Pulp Mill and Woodlands operations have voted overwhelmingly in favour of new four-year collective agreements.

“Unifor has made it a priority to raise and equalize standards in the pulp and paper sector,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “I’m pleased to say that both of these contracts achieve the Eastern Canada Pulp and Paper Pattern established by our union in April.”

MEDIA ADVISORY: CN Drivers protest unsanitary washrooms and unsafe working conditions

Members of Unifor Local 4003 who drive trucks to transport containers for Canadian National Transportation Limited are holding an information picket protesting unacceptable working conditions at the Brampton rail yard.

“This protest is about access to sanitary washrooms and respect in the workplace,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Our members have had enough and are taking a stand against this employer.”

Unifor denounces Ford cuts to Francophone services

November 19, 2018

TORONTO – Unifor denounces cuts to Francophone services, after confirmation that Premier Doug Ford will stand by his government’s decision to abolish the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner and cancel plans to build a Francophone university.

Unifor deeply opposes Ontario PC vote to deny the existence of trans people

November 19, 2018

TORONTO – Unifor expresses grave concern following a vote by members of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party voicing support for the removal of gender identity from Ontario’s sex-ed curriculum.

“This shameful resolution shows that Doug Ford would rather appease a small faction of his party than uphold the human rights of trans students in Ontario,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “Ford’s Government has already enacted this transphobia by repealing comprehensive sex-ed.”

More gains for Unifor hotel workers as fifth group ratifies agreement

November 16, 2018

TORONTO—Unifor members at the Delta Hotels Toronto Airport & Conference Centre are the fifth Local 7575 unit to negotiate significant improvements this fall.

“We are making significant progress turning more precarious casual and part-time jobs into full-time jobs,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Now that Doug Ford is stripping workers of basic rights, creating secure full-time work in Ontario’s hospitality industry is even more important.”

Ford Government fall economic statements fails to lift workers

TORONTO – The Progressive Conservative’s fall economic update is a clear signal that austerity measures are coming to Ontario.

“Doug Ford’s economic plan won’t lift Ontario working families out of poverty, it will take them back to the days of Mike Harris,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “Like Harris, Doug Ford is hiding austerity measures under the guise of efficiencies.”

Strike deadline looms at Globe and Mail

November 13, 2018

TORONTO – Unionized workers at The Globe and Mail could be on strike by midnight Wednesday as they seek pension protection and an end to a pay gap between male and female employees.

“There is no excuse for a pay gap between women and men at a newspaper that considers itself Canada’s paper of record,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor’s National President.

Purina closure will cost community nearly 90 good jobs

November 9, 2018

MISSISSAUGA—Nestlé’s subsidiary Purina will force at least 87 Canadians out of work when the GTA pet food manufacturer moves operations to the United States in 2019.

“There’s no reason for Nestlé to close this facility,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Generations of Canadians have worked at Purina since 1967 and now politics is forcing people out of work.”