REGINA—Nearly 800 workers at the Co-op Refinery are disappointed that mandatory mediation made little to no progress with the employer and they are still without a fair deal that doesn’t include concessions.
"We are disappointed Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) continues to come to the bargaining table demanding roll backs in our pensions and other concessions, despite the fact that this employer continues to rake in billions of dollars in profits,” said Kevin Bittman, President of Unifor Local 594, the union representing Co-op Refinery workers.
Steps toward a transfer of ministerial oversight of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission to the Ministry of Transportation is a positive change for residents in Northern Ontario, but the key component of Northlander rail line service remains missing.
VANCOUVER—Unifor will return to the bargaining table to negotiate in good faith with Coast Mountain Bus Company, but warns that more inaction from the employer will cause further transit disruptions by the end of the week.
Yesterday’s fall economic update solidified plans to maintain reckless funding cuts to public services and further gutting of legislation that protects workers’ rights through Bill 124.
November 5, 2019 HALIFAX – Unifor is reminding Irving Shipbuilding, Inc. that creating and maintaining Canadian jobs is a key component of the Canadian Shipbuilding Strategy and should remain the top priority.
TORONTO - Unifor strongly condemns the arrest and detention of 57 members of labour and civil society organizations in the Philippines.
“I call upon the Filipino government to immediately drop the trumped-up charges against Anne Krueger and all detained labour organizers. The sudden, widespread arrest of nearly 60 activists is a reprehensible fear tactic, clearly aimed at suppressing a growing movement for workers’ rights,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
VANCOUVER—Coast Mountain Bus Company’s refusal to make any significant offers over the last 48 hours have forced Unifor Locals 111 and 2200 negotiators to call off talks.
“We have not had a serious offer from the company since we served strike notice,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “In other words, the company feels very comfortable with system-wide job action.”
VANCOUVER—As negotiations continue, transit workers have announced that, should a tentative agreement not be reached by 8 a.m. on Friday, November 1, strike action will begin with a uniform ban by transit operators and an overtime ban by maintenance workers.
Following months of difficult negotiations, Unifor finally secured Closure Agreements with Inteva Products, Lear Corporation Whitby, Auto Warehousing Canada (AWC), and Robinson Solutions.
VANCOUVER—The failure of Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) to meaningfully address workers’ concerns about working conditions, wages, and benefits during this round of negotiations has led Unifor Local 111 and 2200 to serve 72-hour notice of job action.
“It’s not hard to understand what is happening here. The company is showing little respect for the difficult working conditions that our members must face every day,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Unifor is renewing its call for new product allocation at the Oakville Assembly Plant following today’s restructuring announcement by Ford Motor Company.
MONTREAL- Unifor’s VIA Rail locals open bargaining in Montreal as contracts near expiration for more than 2,000 members. “Unifor members are looking forward to delivering the highest quality service for passengers today, and through the next generation of rail infrastructure,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “These bargaining teams are experienced, and ready to represent workers in the fight for a fair contract.” Unifor represents maintenance workers, on-board service personnel, chefs, sales agents and customer service staff at VIA Rail.
EDMONTON—Premier Jason Kenney’s cuts to provincial services are totally unwarranted and will only deepen the issues with Alberta’s economy, says Unifor.
“Austerity has been widely discredited but that won’t stop Jason Kenney from his old habits,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “He cannot cut his way to prosperity.”
VICTORIA—Unifor applauds the leadership of the John Horgan government for introducing a bill to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
“The UNDRIP is important to reconciliation and helps build a legal framework to let Indigenous communities thrive,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
October 20, 2019 TORONTO –The election of a Liberal minority government, with the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois holding the balance of power gives workers a strong voice in Parliament. “This election was always about workers and big questions. How can we create good paying jobs, provide vital services including healthcare, and confront climate change as a country? Canadian voters delivered an answer on how today- we’ll do it together,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. Unifor actively opposed the Conservative election agenda with a successful campaign to Stop Scheer.
REGINA—As the province-wide service disruption enters its third week, Unifor has offered to go to binding arbitration on outstanding monetary issues with employers.
“Unifor members want to return to serving the people of Saskatchewan, but they won’t do it without a fair contract or a commitment from the Crowns to arbitration,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “If the Crowns agree to this reasonable offer, nearly 5,000 Crown workers could be back at work tomorrow.”
REGINA—After a day of dialogue with Crown employers, Unifor National President Jerry Dias will hold a media availability to provide an update on Crown sector bargaining.
WHAT: Crowns sector bargaining update WHO: Unifor National President Jerry Dias and other local union leaders WHEN: October 18 at 5 p.m. WHERE: SaskPower headquarters, 2025 Victoria Avenue, Regina
TORONTO—Today labour activists from across Ontario occupied Doug Ford’s office to demand action from the provincial government to prevent workplace death and injuries at Fiera Foods.
“Desperate times call for extreme measures and the situation at Fiera Foods is certainly desperate,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We are calling on the Doug Ford government to protect precarious workers like those at Fiera Foods and we won’t take silence as an answer.”
REGINA—The construction of on-site living quarters for scab labour by the Co-op Refinery is only going to derail contract talks, warns Unifor.
“Making plans to bus scabs in to an active refinery is going to totally disrupt good-faith bargaining,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “It’s reckless and unnecessary.”
October 10, 2019 VANCOUVER – Unifor members at Coast Mountain Bus Company have delivered an overwhelming 99 per cent strike mandate, after negotiations for a new collective agreement broke off on October 3, 2019. “Our members take the responsibility of providing safe, dependable public transportation seriously and they’re asking Coast Mountain to properly recognize the dedication and effort that the workers put in day in and day out to properly deliver it,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
REGINA—Members from Unifor’s six Crowns are disappointed to announce that the Water Security Agency agreed to a tentative agreement that includes the two-year wage freeze imposed by the Scott Moe government.
VANCOUVER – Unifor Coast Mountain Bus Company members will conduct a strike vote on Thursday, October 10, 2019.
“This strike vote takes place following months of negotiations with Coast Mountain,” said Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle. “This is an opportunity for our members to voice their concerns and vote ahead of the resumption of negotiations with the company on October 15.”
TORONTO—Shortly after serving 72-hour strike notice, Unifor Local 114 has secured a new tentative agreement for Dynamex Couriers, a subsidiary of Transforce.
“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for achieving their goals,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Dynamex Couriers have earned a fair contract.”
Unifor launched a new Ontario-wide campaign today that takes the Doug Ford government to task on its drastic budget cuts to municipalities, health care, and education, as well as the anti-worker legislation it plans to introduce when parliament returns later this fall.
REGINA—After announcing a return to work earlier today, SaskTel workers have now been locked out by the employer, triggering a cancellation of the planned return to work at other Crown corporations.
“Just when we thought Scott Moe couldn’t make things worse, he proved us wrong, from Asia no less,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The provincial government engineered a strike by Crown workers by imposing a wage freeze, now it stands idly by while SaskTel workers are prevented from returning to work.”
TORONTO—Transforce’s failure to make a fair wage offer to their Dynamex Couriers has forced their union to serve 72-hour strike notice.
“The boom of e-commerce is happening on the backs of couriers,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “It’s time Transforce share their success with the workers that keep it in business.”
REGINA—5,000 striking Crown workers will be back at work on Tuesday after Premier Scott Moe left the province in the middle of the largest strike action in decades.
“Premier Moe caused the strike, and now he has fled the province and his responsibilities” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Unifor retains the legal right to resume picket lines if necessary.
KAMLOOPS—Unifor 10-B members working at Dearborn Ford (a subsidiary of Cam Clark Auto Group) have voted to ratify a new three-year collective agreement that includes wage increases and a pension enhancement.
“The new collective agreement at Dearborn Ford is the result of tough bargaining and impressive solidarity,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The bargaining committee and the entire unit should be proud of their work.”
