August 31, 2017 Mexico City – As the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade resumes, Unifor National President Jerry Dias will speak to thousands of Mexican workers at a rally for labour rights in Mexico City. “NAFTA may have brought jobs to Mexico, but it did not bring prosperity as international companies instead chose to pit worker against worker in a race to the bottom,” “said Dias. “Unifor stands united with the working people of Mexico.
August 29, 2017 Pittsburgh, PA — Leaders of the U.S. union United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE) and Unifor signed a cooperation agreement to change and renew the North American labor movement, based on shared values and commitment to aggressive struggle, equity and political independence. “Working people in the United States, like working people in Canada, are confronted by rising inequality and a political establishment that refuses to confront that inequality head-on,” said UE General President Peter Knowlton.
Victoria—Workers at the Hotel Grand Pacific have voted 92 per cent in favour of a new three-year collective agreement that secures, among other things, wage gains and a pension plan.
“Unifor contracts in the hotel sector are a ticket to a living wage and job security,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Hotel workers deserve to share in the success and profits of their employers.”
August 25, 2017 Peterborough – General Electric has eliminated approximately 358 good manufacturing jobs as the company announced it will cease operations at its Peterborough, Ontario plant by the end of the third quarter in 2018. “General Electric has been an integral part of Peterborough’s history for over a century,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “Now the company is rewarding the loyalty of the community by pulling up the stakes and moving jobs out of the country.” The workers, members of Unifor Locals 599 and 524 were informed of the impending shutdown today.
August 22, 2017 Victoria—The bargaining committee of Unifor Local 114 have reached a tentative agreement with the employer. “The Unifor pattern agreement for hotel workers was always going to be the solution to this round of bargaining with the Grand Pacific,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Unifor is committed to fair contracts for hotel workers.” Earlier this month, Local 114 members voted to strike if necessary before the expiration of their current contract on September 1.
Victoria—Members of Unifor Local 114 working for the Hotel Grand Pacific have voted to strike if the employer refuses to bargain a fair deal by September 1 when the current contract expires.
“Other hotels in BC have signed onto a pattern agreement, but the Hotel Grand Pacific refuses to join the norm,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Local 114 members deserve what other hotel workers have achieved, so the Grand Pacific is risking a major customer service interruption to buck the trend.”
VANCOUVER—A planned bump in the minimum wage next month is a good step but the government must commit to a timeline to get to $15 per hour.
“British Columbia’s working poor deserve a $15 per hour minimum wage,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Too many workers, especially in Metro Vancouver, are making impossible choices between paying the rent and other bare necessities like medicine or groceries.”
REGINA— Right-wing Premier Brad Wall’s resignation won’t halt the Sask Party government’s reckless privatization and threats to the integrity of Crown corporations, says Unifor.
“Since the 2016 provincial election, Sask Party cabinet ministers have been sneaking around trying to sell off Crown corporations,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Brad Wall lied in the election and there’s no reason to believe that the rest of his caucus will honour their election promise to keep Saskatchewan’s Crowns public.”
VANCOUVER—Members of Unifor Local 4275 have voted 97% in favour of legal job action if a new contract cannot be reached by this weekend.
“The employer has been dragging their feet. There has been little or no response to our proposals and there are concessions that our members simply cannot afford,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
The strike vote puts the union in a position to serve 72-hour notice of a legal strike.
VANCOUVER—Nearly 100 food service workers at Edgewater Casino will have to re-apply for their jobs when the company moves to the new facility, says Unifor.
“It’s a kick in the teeth to workers who’ve been working hard and are loyal to this company,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Vancouver has the highest cost of living in Canada, but that doesn’t matter to corporations like Paragon Gaming. Union-busting and wage suppression is the only business model they know.”
July 18, 2017 Toronto—Unifor’s regional councils have added another $120,000 to BC wildfire relief donations, bringing the union’s total Red Cross donation to over $220,000. “I want to thank our regional bodies for stepping up to extend Unifor’s solidarity,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Toronto– A renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement must include fundamental changes, including enforceable labour and environmental standards and the elimination of the disputes settlement system, Unifor tells the federal government.
July 14, 2017 Kitimat—Members of Unifor Local 2301 have voted 99.5% in favour of a strike if a fair deal cannot be reached at the bargaining table before July 23. “Rio Tinto has created a climate of extreme disrespect in the workplace, and it should be no surprise that these workers are fed up,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
July 13, 2017 Campbell River—Unifor has reached a tentative agreement with Nyrstar at its Campbell River ore mine. “This is great news for workers and the community that has been impacted by unpredictable closures,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Our members are eager to get the mine fully operational again.” A combination of factors led the mine to slow operations nearly two years ago, reaching a total shut down in April 2017. Since then, Unifor has been working to help miners get re-training and find other work.
Toronto—Unifor is responding to the wildfire crisis in BC’s Interior with a $100,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross, and is encouraging its local unions and members to give.
“Unifor members have been following the devastation caused by the fires very closely and we feel compelled to act,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We encourage Unifor members and all Canadians to make a donation to the Red Cross so that the affected families can rebuild and recover.”
July 7, 2017 Thunder Bay – A tentative collective agreement has been reached between Bombardier and Unifor Local 1075 representing workers at the company’s plant in this northwestern Ontario city. “This deal is fair to the Thunder Bay workers at Bombardier while ensuring the continued production of its transit vehicles,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “The bargaining team worked very hard to get this deal, and I commend them for their work.” Details of the new collective agreement will be released after a ratification vote to be held on Sunday.
Vancouver— The Supreme Court of British Columbia has upheld the wage floor in the Container Trucking Act, after ten trucking companies sued the provincial government in an effort to avoid back pay and keep industry wages down.
“Container truck drivers work hard and deserve fair compensation,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Unifor fought hard to get higher pay rates and retroactivity included in the Act. We’re pleased that the court recognized the greed exhibited by these trucking companies for what it was.”
July 4, 2017 Winnipeg—Unifor is proud to be part of the Partnership to Defend Public Services, the coalition of Manitoba workers’ organizations that are challenging the province’s anti-union legislation. “Workers with good jobs are the first people that right-wing governments want to blame for fiscal problems of their own making,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
June 22, 2017 Victoria—Despite attractive promises, the BC Throne Speech is a desperate attempt to cling to power says Unifor. “British Columbians have no reason to trust anything coming from the Christy Clark government,” said Joie Warnock, Unifor’s Western Regional Director. “The Throne Speech shows that Premier Clark will say anything—at any cost—to stay in power.” More resembling the BC NDP’s election platform than a vision from the 2001–2017 BC Liberal government, the Speech from the Throne contained promises for childcare and campaign finance reform.
The recent announcement of a Delastek expansion in Mexico demonstrates once again that this employer never intended to negotiate in good faith with workers, says Unifor. The union represents employees of Delastek, members of Local 1209, who have been on strike for more than two years.
June 19, 2017 Toronto—A diverse mix of workers, community allies, and employers held rallies in five cities across three provinces to demand a new Canada-U.S. softwood lumber agreement that protects good jobs. "Tens of thousands of jobs and the future of dozens of communities depend on fair trade in softwood lumber,” said Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to Unifor’s National President. “All across Canada workers and employers are rallying today to tell the federal government to negotiate a fair trade agreement with the U.S.
June 19, 2017 Vancouver—Several hotels in downtown Vancouver and Victoria are in bargaining with Unifor this summer as hospitality workers seek to share in the economic success of the hotel industry. “Unifor defends workers’ rights in the hospitality sector,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We look forward to bargaining fair wages and healthy working conditions in Vancouver and Victoria hotels.” Workers at the Hotel Vancouver, the Coast Coal Harbour, the Residence Inn, and the Hotel Grand Pacific are looking to make gains during a time of strong sales and profits.
June 16, 2017 Toronto - The union representing 12,000 Canadian journalists and media workers joined today with News Media Canada in requesting a federal fund to support Canadian news outlets. “Canadian journalism is essential to our democracy. The proposal for an expanded Canadian Periodical Fund will put journalists back on the street at a time when the advertising revenue that pays for them is being stripped away by Google and Facebook,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
June 16, 2017 Toronto, ON – Toronto 2017 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) Host Society announced Unifor as a presenting partner for the multi-sport Games, taking place in the City of Toronto and Greater Toronto Area (GTA), this summer from July 16-23. Details of the Unifor agreement include official naming rights to the two, week-long cultural festivals on the campuses of McMaster University and York University, as well as naming rights to all medal ceremonies taking place at both the cultural festival sites and various sport venues.
June 15, 2017 TORONTO- Unifor welcomes the Heritage Committee report on Canadian media and local news. “The Heritage Committee conducted a 15-month study of Canadian media and have recommended 21st century solutions for 21st century problems,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
June 12, 2017 Toronto – Today's child care announcement by federal and provincial and territorial ministers responsible for early childhood education on a long-awaited framework agreement falls far short of what Canadians need. "Children are missing out on early learning and development opportunities and society is missing out on the talents of workers - mostly women - who cannot afford to enter or re-enter the workforce," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Toronto - Unifor is calling on the federal and provincial governments to put a halt to the practice by clinics of charging user-fees for necessary health services, as found in a ground-breaking new report by the Ontario Health Coalition.
“Health care should never be a money-making venture,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “The growth in private clinics is undermining universal accessible health care. Governments should not be so naïve to believe that the two can co-exist, without destroying our cherished public health care system.”
Thursday, June 1, 2017 Prince George—Pattern bargaining for Western Canada’s pulp and paper sector has concluded with a four-year tentative agreement signed by Unifor, the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC), and Canfor Pulp. “The tentative agreement signed today reflects the important contributions of our members at pulp and paper workplaces across the West,” said Joie Warnock, Unifor’s Western Regional Director. Today’s tentative agreement with Canfor Pulp will set the pattern for Unifor and PPWC’s 17 other pulp and paper mills in BC and Alberta.
Monday, May 29, 2017 Victoria—The coalition announced by BC NDP Leader John Horgan and BC Green Leader Andrew Weaver reflects the will of BC’s voters and can initiate positive change, says Unifor. “This is a historic day that our members worked very hard for,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The BC Liberals governed for their wealthy donors.
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