Unifor is welcoming hundreds of hotel workers from across Toronto and Mississauga who are making the decision to leave their U.S. union, UNITE HERE, and preserve their autonomy and workers’ democratic rights as part of Unifor. “Unifor will not stand by and allow the heavy-handed tactics of American unions to continue to trample on the rights of Canadian workers,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias said. The American union of UNITE HERE organized a takeover of its Canadian unit Local 75 that represents hotel and food service workers throughout the GTA.
Moncton – Unifor welcomes the New Brunswick government’s latest move to make childcare more affordable and accessible for working parents.
“This is a great step towards making childcare more affordable for working parents,” said Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director. “This is also important to advancing women’s equality and enabling women to participate more fully in the labour force.” Today the government announced that families won’t pay more than 20 per cent of their income on child care for children under five.
Saint John - Unifor is applauding the New Brunswick government’s $71 million investment to improve child care in the province, including today’s announcement of free childcare for all families with children under five, earning less than $37,500.
“As a long-time advocate of accessible, affordable, high quality childcare, Unifor is very pleased to see these important steps being taken by the government of New Brunswick,” said Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director.
Toronto—Unifor supports the Government of Canada’s new complaint to the World Trade Organization WTO) over the United States’ unfair trade tariffs on the forestry sector.
“The U.S. is trying to bully us, and we’re not going to stand for it,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Canada’s forestry sector is following the rules and we’re confident that we will prevail—again—in international tribunals.”
Peterborough—One of the region’s largest employers announced the unjustified closure of the Nephton mine near Havelock just days before Christmas.
“Shutting the Nephton mining operation simply does not make sense, and this decision will inevitably haunt Unimin,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Worse, this announcement comes with no commitment of job protection for the hundreds of affected families.”
Toronto—During the busiest season of the year for Canadian airports, Unifor is raising concerns about the dangers of abandoning the not-for-profit model of the nation’s airport network.
“Airports are gateways for millions of passengers and billions of dollars in goods,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Airport security and service should take priority over making a quick buck.”
St. Johns – Unifor has filed a second unfair labour practice complaint alleging bad faith bargaining against an American based employer that locked out 32 aerospace workers one year ago today.
"D-J Composites refuses to abide by the normally accepted practices for collective bargaining, and clearly has no intention of fulfilling its obligations to these workers under the province’s employment laws,” said Shane Wark, Assistant to Unifor’s National President, at a rally on the steps of the Confederation Building in St. John’s.
St-John's - Members of Unifor local 597 will mark the one-year anniversary of the day their American-based employer locked them out, with a bus ride from Gander to the Newfoundland and Labrador legislature in St. John’s for a solidarity rally.
“If the province had stronger labour laws there is no way this American company could get away with its shameful union busting and would have to instead negotiate fairly,” said Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director.
Halifax - On December 6, Unifor and Bell Aliant honoured the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women with concrete action by negotiating paid domestic violence leave.
Vancouver — In a written submission to the Fair Wage Commission, Unifor is recommending an immediate adoption of the $15 minimum wage to alleviate poverty and stimulate the economy.
“Any way you look at it, B.C.’s current minimum wage is a poverty sentence,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “There is no time to waste. B.C. should raise the minimum wage to $15 now.”
November 24, 2017 Toronto – Unifor Local 4268 has served First Student Canada with a strike notice effective as of 12:01 a.m. on Thursday November 30, 2017. “We hope to reach a fair deal with First Student as we know the service our drivers provide is vital to students and their families,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi.
November 24, 2017 Edmonton—A bargaining impasse between Unifor Local 21A and AT Films Inc. (RPC BPI Agriculture) has led the union to apply for mediation. “The company is waging an attack on health benefits and pension obligations,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “AT Films appears intent on taking bargaining on a path towards customer service disruption and job action.” The union went on strike in July 2015 to protect contract language on pensions and benefits and says that cuts in this round are a non-starter. AT Films Inc.
November 20, 2017 Mexico City – Unifor National President Jerry Dias will visit the site where two striking Mexican miners were brutally murdered near the Media Luna mine in Guerrero State, Mexico. “I am saddened and angered that these workers were murdered for standing up for their right to join the union of their choice,” said Dias.
Ottawa—Unifor rail workers are back in Ottawa this week to urge senators to amend the government bill authorizing workplace surveillance (Bill C-49).
“C-49 was rushed and will have widespread implications for workers in every sector,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The federal government has simply not done its homework on these extraordinary surveillance measures.”
November 13, 2017 Toronto – Unifor Local 444 members at the Dresden and Point Edward Casinos have ratified new three-year contracts with Gateway Casinos & Entertainment. “These contracts provide a framework for negotiations with private corporations that have taken over casinos from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation,” said Deb Tveit, Assistant to the Unifor National President.
November 10, 2017 TORONTO – A tentative agreement has been reached between Gateway Casinos & Entertainment and Unifor Local 444, representing approximately 250 workers at the Dresden and Point Edward Casinos. “This tentative agreement is significant as it’s the first one reached since Gateway Casinos took over the casinos from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation,” said Deb Tveit, Assistant to the Unifor National President.
November 8, 2017 VANCOUVER – Unifor members at Brink’s Canada Ltd. in British Columbia have ratified a new four-year contract. “These negotiations presented a unique set of challenges in an industry that is undergoing fundamental change,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
TORONTO—Amendments to the U.S.-imposed duties on softwood lumber exports doesn’t change the crisis facing Canada’s forestry industry, says Unifor.
“Nothing changes today. The tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber are outrageous,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We expect our government’s response to be bold and confident. Forestry communities deserve nothing less.”
November 2, 2017 TORONTO – Unifor repeated the call today for multiple amendments to Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, at the final public hearing on the proposed legislation. “There are still holes in Bill 148 that leave workers vulnerable to abuse by employers that must be addressed before it becomes law,” said Unifor’s Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi.
OTTAWA—Unifor has taken its concerns about pending workplace surveillance legislation to the federal Privacy Commissioner in an open letter published today.
“There is a dangerous precedent buried in Bill C-49,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Recording workers on the job is a violation of basic privacy rights.”
WASHINGTON – Unifor National President Jerry Dias and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross have agreed that addressing the core issue of low Mexican wages is the key to breaking the impasse at NAFTA renegotiations.
“There is a clear understanding that Canadian and American workers have both been injured by the siphoning off of manufacturing jobs to Mexico,” said Dias. “We agreed that Canada and the U.S. must work together to pressure Mexico to drive up wages significantly or face joint retaliatory measures.”
October 29, 2017 TORONTO – Brink’s Canada Ltd. workers in two Unifor bargaining groups, one in Ottawa region and the other covering the remainder of Ontario, have ratified new four-year contracts. “These were very difficult negotiations,” said Unifor Assistant to the National Secretary-Treasurer Jenny Ahn.
October 25, 2017 REGINA—Unifor says that the repeal of Bill 40 is a good start to rebuilding the government’s commitment to the province’s popular Crown corporations. “The people of this province value affordable, high-quality public services,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Repealing the privatization law is just the start.
October 20, 2017 WINDSOR – Medical Laboratory Assistants and Medical Laboratory Technicians, represented by Unifor Local 2458, have ratified a tentative agreement with Medical Laboratories of Windsor, bringing a three week strike to an end. “We’re pleased to have a deal that recognizes the value of the members work,” said Tullio DiPonti, Local 2458 Secretary-Treasurer. “We appreciate the support that we received from the public during this job action.
Ottawa—Unifor rail workers from across Canada are in Ottawa this week to urge the federal government to re-think authorizing workplace surveillance in Bill C-49.
“Recording workers on the job is not a safety tool, it is a surveillance tool,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “It is a dangerous precedent and the government has not made the case that these extreme measures are warranted.”
October 16, 2017 TORONTO – While the plan for Airbus to take a majority stake in the Bombardier C Series airliner could help build a strong future for the program, and the aerospace industry as a whole, it is too early to celebrate, Unifor says. “It is a sad day that a high-tech Canadian treasure is ending up in European control, but we can take some satisfaction that the C Series is getting some needed stability,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. Over the past few weeks, the U.S Department of Commerce has imposed duties of nearly 300 per cent on sales of the C Series.
October 12, 2017 Windsor – Unifor will hold a media conference tomorrow to update media and the public on the strike against Medical Laboratories of Windsor. “It’s disappointing that patients continue to lack access to key medical tests because Medical Laboratories of Windsor refuses to come to a reasonable settlement with its employees,” said Tullio DiPonti, Local 2458 Secretary-Treasurer. Political representatives for the riding of Windsor West will also be in attendance to lend their support to striking workers on the picket line.
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