TORONTO- Unifor members at Bombardier were left in the dark when the Company announced plans to cut 5000 jobs globally. Bombardier also announced the sales of its Q Series turboprop aircraft program and business aircraft flight and technical training units.
“Today’s announcement came as a complete shock,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Bombardier has backtracked on commitments made during bargaining. This sends a troubling message to aerospace workers.”
OTTAWA – Unifor delegates from the aluminum sector will meet with MPs from all parties to urge action to address the 10 per cent tariff imposed on Canadian producers by the United States.
TORONTO— A reform announced today by Minister Hajdu in Toronto will extend Canadian Labour Code wage protection to airport workers who face contract flipping.
“Contract flipping at Canada’s airports, with the intent to lower working conditions, eats away at the foundation of good jobs in our country,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Today’s announcement by Minister Hajdu is a victory for our union that has been years in the making.”
HALIFAX – Unifor is concerned by the federal government’s decision to divide maintenance work on Halifax-class ships, but hopes for positive news tomorrow.
“The federal government’s decision to split maintenance work on the Halifax-class ships is worrisome as it will have an impact on jobs at the Halifax Shipyard,” said David Baker-Mosher, Unifor-MWF Local 1 president. “However, the Minister of Defence will make an additional announcement tomorrow and we are hopeful this will be positive news for workers at the yard.”
CALGARY—Bargaining for a new collective agreement began this morning in Calgary between Unifor Local 101R and Canadian Pacific.
“Our members are frustrated by heavy handed, unreasonable discipline that breeds distrust on a daily basis, and creates financial hardship and stress for families,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Unifor Local 101R represents 1200 workers from British Columbia to Quebec, who service locomotives and freight cars, and produce track and freight car/locomotive components.
OTTAWA - Unifor welcomes the federal government's launch of proactive pay equity legislation to close the gender wage gap in federally regulated sectors.
“It’s time that we address the undervaluing of women’s work and put measures in place to ensure compliance, and the proposed Pay Equity Act does just that,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “This is what our members have been pushing for in consultations across the country.”
TORONTO- Premier Doug Ford’s plan to scrap Ontario College of Trades could erode quality and harm skilled trades workers.
“Skilled trades workers fought hard for the establishment of the Ontario College of Trades - to ensure high-quality workmanship that Ontarians can rely on,” said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director. “Apprentices in the trades need reliable training to support their learning, and a united, independent OCOT to maintain safety and excellence in Ontario’s skilled trades.”
OTTAWA- The union representing 12,000 Canadian journalists and media workers is urging members of the federal cabinet to implement key policy recommendations from the 2017 Commons Heritage report on local news in the upcoming federal budget.
TORONTO- Unifor condemns the provincial government’s plan to claw back workers’ rights and protections.
“Fair scheduling, equal pay for equal work, paid sick days. These rights are not frivolous- they are practical, minimum standard for fairness. Standards that help grow good jobs and keep workers safe,” Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “This Act is a direct attack on millions of workers, backed up by an imaginary crisis.”
FREDERICTON – Unifor is calling on all New Brunswick MLAs to support today’s Throne Speech.
The results of the provincial election dictate that collaboration and consensus-building are expected by New Brunswickers, and this Throne Speech is evidence the Liberals were listening.
The Speech contains a number of initiatives that can and should be supported by most if not all the political parties.
TORONTO – Two thousand Unifor members and retirees are expected to join the rally with the Ontario Health Coalition and other advocates to defend public health care on Tuesday, October 23, at Queen’s Park, Toronto.
OSHAWA—The Unifor bargaining committee representing 73 transit workers has reached a tentative agreement with PW Transit. “Unifor is a union for transit workers,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Our members do important work in the regional transit network and deserve a fair contract.” The committee worked late into the night to secure the tentative agreement.
October 19, 2018 OTTAWA – A delegation of Unifor activists and leaders will be in Ottawa next week to urge the federal government to take action to address the crisis in Canadian journalism as newsrooms continue to shrink across the country. “There are plenty of things the federal government can do to stop the drain of revenues to Facebook and Google and boost Canadian media,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
OSHAWA—Pacific Western Transit’s failure to negotiate a fair contract means more than 73 transit workers could be on strike as of October 27 at midnight.
“Our members are proud to serve their communities in Durham,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Fairness for these workers needs to be a higher priority.”
HALIFAX – Hundreds of Unifor members and supporters will depart from the Irving Shipyard and march along Barrington Street to Grand Parade on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. to support the Ships Stay Here campaign.
POWELL RIVER—Unifor members at three B.C. paper mills are welcoming news that a major paper manufacturer has stepped in to purchase the troubled Catalyst Paper.
“A vibrant forestry industry is pivotal to so many B.C. communities,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “B.C.’s pulp and paper industry is both environmentally sustainable and a source of good jobs.”
TORONTO—Unifor Local 7575 members at the Hyatt Regency hotel have voted to ratify a new collective agreement that includes major economic gains and secures good jobs in the industry.
“Unifor’s new members in the hospitality industry are seeing tangible benefits of joining an activist union,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Unifor has proven that we will fight for sector-leading collective agreements."
GANDER - D-J Composites has consented to binding arbitration to resolve a 21-month lockout of Unifor Local 597 members.
“On Monday we asked Premier Dwight Ball to intervene and stand up for 30 workers who have been on a picket line far too long and we are pleased that with his assistance, we are going to binding arbitration,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor’s National President.
Binding arbitration will eventually lead to a collective agreement, which will end the lockout.
CHATHAM, ON - Health care workers and members of Local 2458 invite the community of Chatham and surrounding areas to a rally to protest cuts to front-line care for seniors in long-term care.
What: Rally for care for residents When: Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 1:30 pm Where: 91 Tecumseh Road Chatham, Ontario N7M 1B3 Who: Health care workers, Unifor Local 2458 members and members of the public
GANDER - Unifor is outraged, but not surprised, that D-J Composites is refusing to negotiate an end to the 21-month lockout at the Gander aerospace plant.
“The company is not being honest with the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. DJ Composites’ bargaining has been illegal and deceitful and for this company to expect our union and members to be patient at day 648 is frankly ridiculous,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor’s National President.
TORONTO- Unifor calls for the defence of equal pay provisions that protect millions of part-time and temporary workers in Ontario.
“Paying two workers dramatically different wages for performing the same job attacks the very core of fairness,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The Retail Council of Canada shows a callous disrespect for retail workers by lobbying to re-instate this two-tiered treatment.”
GANDER - Unifor’s National President, Jerry Dias and the President of the N.L. Federation of Labour, Mary Shortall, will join the picket line to stand with 30 Aerospace workers who have been locked out 92 weeks in Gander, N.L. “Thursday marks the 647th day that a U.S. employer has locked out our members in an attempt to break our union. We now have hundreds of members standing outside saying that is not going to happen,” said Dias.
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