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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)

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

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.”

Bombardier’s Q3 announcements leave workers in the dark

November 8, 2018

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.”

Unifor aluminum workers lobby for tariff removal

November 6, 2018

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.

Unifor members at Courtyard by Marriott achieve major job security gains

Workers at the Courtyard by Marriott in Toronto are the fourth Local 7575 unit to negotiate significant improvements after joining Unifor.

Unifor has achieved a guarantee that there will be no conversion of the hotel to condominiums for the duration of the collective agreement. 

Unifor welcomes reforms to Canada’s Labour Code that protect airport workers from contract flipping

November 1, 2018

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.”

Bargaining with CP begins in Calgary

October 31, 2018

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.

Unifor welcomes proactive pay equity to reduce gender wage gap

October 30, 2018

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.”

Doug Ford’s plan to scrap Ontario College of Trades would harm Ontario skilled trade workers

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.”

Unifor urges the Federal Cabinet to #SaveLocalNews

October 25, 2018

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.