TORONTO—Canada’s largest union in the private sector is relieved that unfair and illegal U.S. tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel have been lifted.
“This is great news for Canadian resource workers, we have been pushing against quotas for months now,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “It was critical that the Canadian government stand firm against the demands for hard quotas. The Trudeau government and Minister Freeland deserve credit for not folding under U.S. pressure.”
MONTREAL— Unifor has achieved a new tentative agreement that establishes the pattern for 8,500 members of the National Energy Program.
“The energy and chemical sector continues to be an important economic driver in Canada. By working together, our members have used their collective power to make much-deserved significant gains,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Energy and chemical jobs continue to be good jobs in communities right across the country.”
TORONTO– Unifor calls for a complete end to the blood ban and a shift to a behaviour-based blood donation survey in Canada.
This week Health Canada announced the one-year deferral period for men who have sex with men and trans women from donating blood will be reduced to 3 months.
“A ban is a ban. Canada faces a chronic shortage of blood and organ donation, but still turns away donors based on sexual orientation,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We need blood donation policies that ensure a safe supply without reinforcing discrimination.”
REGINA – Unifor workers from Saskatchewan’s seven crown corporations say the clock is ticking and they deserve a fair collective agreement.
“The Premier needs to get serious about negotiations to avoid a major disruption in Crown services,” said Unifor President Jerry Dias. “The province is trying to cut costs on the backs of workers who have helped the Crowns be successful and strengthen Saskatchewan’s economy.”
TORONTO—School bus drivers who work at Stock Transportation in the Toronto North Division and the Toronto East Division ratified two new three-year collective agreements on Saturday, May 4.
REGINA - Unifor members from seven crown corporations will send a strong message to the Saskatchewan government on Saturday May 4: The clock is ticking and we deserve a fair collective agreement!
Five thousand Unifor members work at SaskTel, SaskEnergy, SaskPower, SaskWater, the Saskatchewan Water Authority, Directwest and SecurTek. All have expired collective agreements.
TORONTO – Unifor’s National President, Jerry Dias and Travis Hester, President and Managing Director of General Motors Canada will make an important announcement this morning about operations in Oshawa.
VANCOUVER – Unifor applauds B.C.’s NDP government for new laws that will end contract flipping by employers.
“Many of our members have lost their jobs because of this heartless, money grab by employers,” said Unifor President Jerry Dias. “We commend the BC NDP for changing the labour code to ensure greater stability in the workplace.”
The changes mean that workers who have built up fair wages and job security over years of hard work and dedication do not see those stripped away when contracts are re-tendered.
Toronto – The passing of Bill 74 will strengthen Unifor’s commitment in fighting for Ontarians and against Doug Ford’s health care privatization and cuts.
“By passing Bill 74, Doug Ford has made it clear that he has an agenda of cutting and privatizing our healthcare system in Ontario,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “This regressive law has the potential to destroy our public health care system. Unifor is committed to building a major fightback campaign against Ford’s privatization plan.”
VANCOUVER—Unifor’s efforts are paying off for container truck drivers in B.C.’s lower mainland as the Horgan government introduces a suite of changes that will make work better for more than 1,700 truckers and help to stabilize the industry.
HALIFAX – Nearly 200 Unifor members at Tandus Carpets manufacturing facility in Truro, NS, are in shock after they were told Tuesday afternoon their facility will close as work is shifted to the United States.
Edmonton – Unifor pledges to continue building progressive organizing in Alberta following the election of a majority United Conservative Party (UCP) government. “Through a difficult and heated election, voters made it clear that they were worried about the future of good jobs for Albertans,” said Unifor President Jerry Dias. “If implemented, Jason Kenney’s plan will threaten good jobs in the energy sector and will mean outright cuts to public sector jobs in education and healthcare.
Calgary – Workers from Alberta’s oil sands and Unifor members who are worried about the future of the industry if the UCP forms government will be campaigning in support of the NDP today. Photo and interview opportunities are available while they door knock and engage voters, in a last minute push to support NDP candidates before the election.
CALGARY - Workers from Alberta’s energy sector are calling on oil sands company executives to speak out about the threat Jason Kenney’s policies represent to the future of the oil sands.
“The CEOS and executives at Alberta’s biggest oil sands companies know the NDP got it right,” said Kim Conway, Chair of Unifor’s Energy Council.
CALGARY - Workers from the front lines of the energy sector are calling on the oil companies to speak out about the serious threat Kenney’s policies will have on their future. They know that the industry must change. Diversification is the only way it will survive and the NDP’s plan will save Alberta from economic ruination in the energy sector.
The oil patch CEOs know it too. Suncor’s CEO once said, “Kenney’s approach of ignoring what our potential customers really want puts both investment and jobs at risk.”
TORONTO – Ford’s first budget threatens future growth and prosperity with dramatic tightening of public service spending and lack of leadership on manufacturing.
"Conservatives have failed to reflect the priorities of working families in Ontario,” said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director. “Essentially freezing government spending on education, health and social services won’t go unnoticed in public services that are already underfunded and in dire need of core funding.”
TORONTO- Unifor members are organizing events at union halls across the province on April 11, 2019 to watch the provincial budget announcement and discuss the effects of Budget 2019.
WINDSOR- Unifor members working at Windsor Regional Hospital were shocked by the news of the hospitals plan to layoff 80 workers, including those in housekeeping and food services. “Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj is trying to sell these layoffs as necessary cost improvements that will have no impact on direct patient care,” said National President Jerry Dias. “That could not be further from the truth.
TORONTO- Unifor calls for an end to Ford Conservatives’ cruel cuts set to harm students’ education, eliminate thousands of full time teachers and steal the province’s prosperity.
VICTORIA – Dozens of Unifor members from across the province are gathering in Victoria for three days of lobbying aimed at improving working conditions for the people of B.C., including children.
“Its 2019 and yet women in B.C. still make significantly less than their male colleagues,” said Joie Warnock, Unifor Western Regional Director. “For every dollar a man earns per hour, women make 65 cents. That’s close to the highest wage gap in Canada and B.C. is long overdue for pro-active pay equity legislation.”
TORONTO - Unifor members call foul on Bell’s move to slash technicians’ hours across Ontario and Quebec.
Hundreds of Technicians working for Bell are categorized as part-time in name only, regularly working 40-hour weeks for many years. Last week, Bell suddenly changed that, so that technicians across Ontario and Quebec are seeing hours and pay cheques cut in half.
REGINA—The Scott Moe government has failed to secure a new collective agreement with yet another group of Crown corporation workers before the expiry of their agreement—this time with the nearly 3,000 workers represented by Unifor at SaskTel.
“Premier Moe is steering negotiations towards a province-wide service disruption,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Crown workers have had enough. They’re prepared to take a stand to defend high-quality Crown services.”
WINNIPEG- Premier Brian Pallister’s crass attempts to win popularity with tax cuts will drain core public programs of funding, says Unifor.
“Tax cuts are a gift to the wealthy and a slap in the face to working families,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Pallister’s tax cuts mean one thing for working families: inferior hospitals and schools.”
