All News

Media Advisory: Rally to defend Saskatchewan crown corporations

REGINA, March 24, 2016 /CNW/ - Rampant privatization under the Saskatchewan Party government has prompted supporters of crown corporations and public services to hold a mid-election rally. Unifor and its allies are demanding a clear statement of support for publicly-controlled crown corporations from all political parties.

Budget a good start, but auto and aerospace investment needed

OTTAWA, March 22, 2016 /CNW/ - Today's federal budget marks a good start, but much work remains, and Canada's largest union in the private sector is urging the government to move quickly to develop long-term programs to revitalize the economy – including investing in Canada's auto and aerospace sectors.

Unifor available to comment on federal budget

OTTAWA, March 21, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's largest union in the private sector will be available to comment on Tuesday's federal budget, both during the media lockup, and after.

"We will be looking for action from this government to get the economy moving and producing good jobs for Canadians," Unifor National President Jerry Dias said.

Unintelligible communication with Coast Guard risks marine safety

OTTAWA, March 10, 2016 /CNW/ - Ongoing failures in the "new" technology deployed in the Coast Guard's Marine Communication and Traffic Services (MCTS) centres in Victoria and Prince Rupert are so serious that the union representing coast guard communication officers is warning that the safety of vessels and the coastline are at risk.

Media advisory - Audio from freedom of information request to be released during Unifor committee testimony

OTTAWA, March 10, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's Coast Guard Communication Officers are sounding the alarm over serious flaws in the technology involved with the planned closure of the Marine Communication and Traffic Services (MCTS) center in Comox, British Columbia. At a hearing today of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, Unifor representatives will present exclusive audio evidence of highly distorted radio communications that could endanger the safety of vessels and the coastline.

Public debate needed on TPP, Unifor tells trade committee

OTTAWA, March 8, 2016 /CNW/ - There are serious concerns with the Trans Pacific Partnership that can only be addressed with a full and open debate among Canadians about the deal, Unifor National President Jerry Dias told the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade this morning.

Unifor President at House Trade Committee

OTTAWA, March 7 /CNW/ - Unifor National President Jerry Dias will speak to the House Committee on Trade on Tuesday morning, emphasizing the need for meaningful consultations with all Canadians on the deal to address some very real concerns with what was negotiated.

"It is vital have an honest, evidence-based look at the deal, with full input from Canadians, to determine if it helps or hurts our economy," Dias said.

Report exposes DHL's abuse of workers: Unifor

TORONTO, March 4, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor is raising concerns about global logistics giant DHL after a new report found the company guilty of breaking its own – and international – rules on the way its workers are treated.

Corporate hydro gift fails to protect good jobs in Williams Lake

WILLIAMS LAKE, BC, March 3, 2016 /CNW/ - After receiving notice of at least 17 layoffs at the Gibraltar Mine, Unifor says that the province's corporate hydro deferral program is failing northern communities.

"If the BC Liberal government's hydro deferral can't generate good jobs, then it's just corporate welfare," said Joie Warnock, Unifor's Western Director. "BC's families don't get a pass on their hydro bills, why should multinational mining companies that are laying off workers?"

Massive school bus contract flip shows system's instability

TORONTO, Feb. 29, 2016 /CNW/ - The flipping of more than 450 Toronto-area school bus routes this morning shows how unstable a system Ontario has for handing out such contracts, and will only get worse, warns Unifor, the province's largest school bus driver union.

Ontario budget funding falls short: Unifor

TORONTO, Feb. 25 , 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor welcomes investment in education, health and infrastructure but says overall funding in the Ontario budget falls short. 

"“Increased funding in these key areas is overdue,”" said Unifor Ontario Director Katha Fortier. “"Today'’s budget is a start, but we need greater investment to really make a difference in the lives of Ontarians.”"

Unifor available for comment on Ontario Budget

TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor, Canada's largest private sector union will be available to provide reaction to the 2016 Ontario budget. Ontario Regional Director Katha Fortier will be accessible for media interviews following the pre-budget lockup at the Macdonald Block.

"It's time for the Wynne government to focus on investing in social services, job creation and economic growth," said Fortier. 

Unifor calls for strong economic stimulus

OTTAWA, Feb. 19, 2016 /CNW/ - With interest rates at historic lows and the need among Canadians great, now is the ideal time for the federal government to take an active role in stimulating the Canadian economy, Unifor National President Jerry Dias told the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance today.

"The retreat of our government from the economic stage has hurt ordinary Canadians," Dias said.

/R E P E A T -- Unifor president to make budget submission/

OTTAWA, Feb. 18, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor National President Jerry Dias will appear before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance on Friday to make Unifor's recommendations for the upcoming federal budget, including ways to stimulate both the economy and job growth.

"Last fall, Canadians voted for a government that would play an active role in stimulating the economy to provide opportunities for working families and future generations," Dias said.

For-profit plasma clinic goes against report on patient safety

REGINA, Feb. 18, 2016 /CNW/ - With news that Saskatchewan is opening the first for-profit plasma donation clinic in the country, Unifor calls on the federal, provincial and territorial ministers of health to re-affirm the three principles governing the Canadian blood system adopted and affirmed by their predecessors in 1979:

I.      protection of the system of voluntary donation;

II.     national self-sufficiency in blood and blood products;

Unifor president to make budget submission

OTTAWA, Feb. 18, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor National President Jerry Dias will appear before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance on Friday to make Unifor's recommendations for the upcoming federal budget, including ways to stimulate both the economy and job growth.

"Last fall, Canadians voted for a government that would play an active role in stimulating the economy to provide opportunities for working families and future generations," Dias said.

Unifor lauds much-needed local news review

TORONTO, Feb. 17, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor, Canada's largest private-sector union, lauded the by the federal government announcement that it will be launching an investigation into the decline of media and its effect on Canadian society.

Enhanced CPP must match or surpass ORPP: Unifor

TORONTO, Feb. 16, 2016 /CNW/ - The renewed dialogue between the Ontario and federal governments on the Canada Pension Plan and the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan is promising news, Unifor says.

Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa confirmed that, under a new deal, the federal government will facilitate registration, share data and administer ORPP contributions on behalf of Ontario.

Several container trucking companies launch legal fight against fair wages

VANCOUVER, Feb. 16, 2016 /CNW/ - A minority of Vancouver container trucking companies have filed suit to avoid paying thousands of dollars of retroactive pay owing to drivers in the sector. The largest union in the sector says that the suit has no merit, and that the companies are seeking an outcome that would threaten stability at Port Metro Vancouver.

Budget stimulus and EI

OTTAWA, Feb. 16, 2016 /CNW/ - An interprovincial coalition of labour and community groups are coming together to make the case for Employment Insurance improvements as part of economic stimulus in the upcoming budget. A joint statement was sent to the Finance Minister, Minister Responsible for EI and the Prime Minister in advance of the House of Commons Finance committee Budget 2016 hearings being held this week. 

Chrysler jobs boost shows Canadian competitiveness

TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2016 /CNW/ - Fiat Chrysler's announcement that a new minivan at its Windsor facility will mean twice as many jobs as first expected is not only good news, it's a reflection of Canada's competiveness in the auto sector, Unifor National President Jerry Dias says.

"Canadian autoworkers can compete with any in the world," Dias said.

Bold change needed in Ontario budget: Unifor

TORONTO, Feb. 1, 2016 /CNW/ - Investing in social services, job creation and economic growth must be the focus of the upcoming Ontario budget. That's the message Unifor delivered to the government's Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs at pre-budget consultations today.

UPDATE: Media Advisory - Unifor briefing for Press Gallery this Thursday

Adds Unifor Quebec Director Renaud Gagné to list of attendees

OTTAWA, Feb. 1, 2016 /CNW/ - As part of its effort to bring the concerns of working people to MPs this week, Canada's largest union in the private sector will hold a morning press briefing for members of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery on Thursday.

Energy sector bargaining opens with an emphasis on job security

CALGARY, Feb. 1, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's energy union began contract negotiations today with Suncor as part of sector-wide bargaining that will impact over 12,000 energy workers across Canada. Unifor says that the key issue in this round of bargaining will be job security.

MEDIA ADVISORY - Monday: Unifor stresses need for investment

TORONTO, Jan. 29, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor Ontario Regional Director Katha Fortier will be speaking Monday, Feb. 1, before the Ontario government's Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, in pre-budget consultations.