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/R E P E A T -- Press conference Thursday: Unifor to give update on CN negotiations/

MONTREAL, Feb. 18, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor will be giving an update about negotiations with CN Rail at a press conference on Thursday at 12-noon ET.

Unifor reached a tentative agreement with CP on Saturday night, but has been unable to reach an agreement with CN after five months of negotiations. On Sunday evening, CN abruptly halted negotiations, refusing to meet the Unifor rail pattern.

Press conference:

Press conference Thursday: Unifor to give update on CN negotiations

MONTREAL, Feb. 18, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor will be giving an update about negotiations with CN Rail at a press conference on Thursday at 12-noon ET.

Unifor reached a tentative agreement with CP on Saturday night, but has been unable to reach an agreement with CN after five months of negotiations. On Sunday evening, CN abruptly halted negotiations, refusing to meet the Unifor rail pattern.

Press conference:

Unifor sets up innovative community fund to help local organizations

MONTREAL, Feb. 18, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor President Jerry Dias is reacting strongly to what he calls an intentional misrepresentation of the union's new Canadian Community Fund, first negotiated at CP Rail on Saturday.

Dias said that the union established a pattern at CP Rail when Unifor settled on a tentative agreement on Saturday night, including the new fund.

Interns bill a good first step, Unifor says

OTTAWA, Feb. 17, 2015 /CNW/ - A private member's bill that is up for second reading in the House of Commons today is a much-needed step in efforts to end the exploitation of unpaid interns in Canada, but more needs to be done, Canada's largest union in the private sector says.

Unifor welcomes Ontario's Public Consultation on modernizing Ontario's labour laws

TORONTO, Feb. 17, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor welcomes today's announcement from the Ontario Ministry of Labour that it will be taking action to modernize Ontario's labour laws. The province announced the launch of a public consultation that will focus on modernizing employment standards and labour relations in the province.

Unifor reaches new agreement with CP Rail minutes before the deadline

MONTREAL, Feb. 15, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor has reached a new tentative agreement with CP Rail, minutes before the 12:01 am deadline.

Unifor Local 101R represents 1,800 members at CP Rail in 18 different locations. Unifor members conduct safety inspections on all rail cars and locomotives, as well as maintenance and repairs. The current collective agreement expired on December 31, 2014 and negotiations had been taking place since September.

Unifor will provide update on CP negotiations at 8 p.m. ET

MONTREAL, Feb. 14, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor will be providing an update on the status of negotiations with CP Rail at 8 p.m. ET this evening, via CNW.  The union has set a strike deadline of tonight at 12:01 a.m. after five months of negotiations.

The current agreement expired on December 31, 2014.

Atlantic Packaging workers secure strong deal

TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor members at Atlantic Packaging have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new collective agreement that will see increases in wages and benefits. The new agreement will see wage increases of 2 per cent in each year of the contract that are retroactive to October 15, 2014 when the last agreement expired.

Casino Rama workers join Unifor

ORILLIA, ON, Feb. 13, 2015 /CNW/ - Workers at Casino Rama, one of Ontario's largest casino resorts, have voted overwhelmingly to become members of Unifor. They now join thousands of gaming and hospitality employees across Canada who are already represented by the union.

CAMI investment shows industry has strong future

TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2015 /CNW/ - General Motors' decision to invest $560 million in its CAMI Automotive plant is further evidence that automakers understand and appreciate the opportunities in this country and that Canada has a strong future in the auto industry.

"Canadian workers have the skill and dedication needed to build the highest-quality vehicles in the world," Unifor National President Jerry Dias said.

Unifor issues strike notice at CP Rail

MONTREAL, Feb. 12, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor issued CP Rail a strike notice for February 15 at 12:01 a.m., late last night. The notice comes after five months of negotiations with the railway.

Unifor represents approximately 1,800 workers at CP, who conduct safety inspections on all rail cars and locomotives, as well as maintenance and repairs.

Unifor disappointed by government decision to sell GM share

TORONTO, Feb. 5, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor expressed its disappointment that the Ontario government has sold its last shares in General Motors.

"We need to utilize every bit of leverage we can to confirm GM's manufacturing footprint in Ontario going forward," said Unifor National President, Jerry Dias.

Unifor truckers make gains

MONTREAL, Jan.31, 2015 /CNW/ - Members of four Unifor locals across Ontario and Quebec, after bargaining as a team, have ratified a new three-year collective agreement that includes pay increases and improvements to scheduling to help ensure a more stable workweek.

CRTC misses the mark

TORONTO, Jan. 29, 2015 /CNW/ - This morning's announcements by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) do nothing to close a $100-million funding gap in local program funding, and may have made the situation even worse.

Decision on future of GM Oshawa must be made before 2016, says Unifor

TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2015 /CNW/ - A decision about the future of General Motors' Oshawa operations can and should be made now, according to Unifor National President Jerry Dias. The union is responding to a statement by GM Canada released this morning suggesting that the company would wait until after 2016 contract negotiations to make a decision about Oshawa's future.  

Air Canada's employees seek share of gains they helped create

TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2015 /CNW/ - Customer Sales and Service Agents at Air Canada will be seeking economic gains after having made many sacrifices during the turbulent times in the airline industry, according to Unifor. Bargaining for a new collective agreement opened today in Toronto.

Bill 1 arbitration decision orders a collaborative bargaining structure

HALIFAX, Jan. 19, 2015 /CNW/ - Arbitrator James Dorsey's Bill 1 decision supports Unifor's position that the Nova Scotia government's health care restructuring legislation allows the existing health care unions to create province-wide collective bargaining agents.

Dorsey issued his decision Monday resulting from the December arbitration involving Unifor and the other three major health care unions in the province. 

Unifor urges change to EI qualifying hours, after mass Target layoff

TORONTO, Jan. 15, 2015 /CNW/ - In light of the mass layoff announced today at Target, Unifor is urging federal Minister of Employment Jason Kenney to provide emergency access to Employment Insurance benefits for Target workers who won't otherwise qualify.

"Many Target workers who have just lost their jobs won't even qualify for unemployment insurance," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

Chrysler investment welcome: Unifor

TORONTO, Jan. 13, 2015 /CNW/ - Chrysler's announcement that it is investing $2 billion in its Windsor minivan plant shows the importance of the facility and the value of its trained and experienced workforce, Unifor National President Jerry Dias says.

Unifor members at CP Rail vote to strike, if necessary

CALGARY, Jan. 13, 2015 /CNW/ - Workers at CP Rail, represented by Unifor Local 101R have voted 97 per cent in favour of going on strike if necessary. The deadline is set as February 15 at 12:01 a.m. Voting took place at meetings right across the Canada over the last week.  

New hotline launched to protect temporary foreign workers

EDMONTON, Jan. 12, 2015 /CNW/ - A confidential hotline has been created to help temporary foreign workers get answers about their rights, both under the federal program and at work.

"Temporary foreign workers have rights just like Canadian workers, and we intend to ensure that they are enforced across the country," said Wally Ewanicke, an organizer with Unifor. "The new hotline is a confidential resource for workers who need answers about their rights at work."

Media Advisory - Unifor to comment on Trans Mountain Pipeline toll decision

VANCOUVER, Jan. 8, 2015 /CNW/ - Canada's energy workers' union will be available to comment following the release of the National Energy Board's (NEB) decision about tolls on Kinder Morgan's existing Trans Mountain Pipeline. The decision will be announced at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

The NEB began a review of the process of apportionment for oil drawn from the pipeline in October 2013.

Hibernia workers sign new collective agreement

ST. JOHN'S, Jan. 7, 2015 /CNW/ - Workers at the Hibernia offshore oil platform, represented by Unifor, have voted to accept a new collective agreement with their employer.

The new agreement includes improvements in wages, benefits and working conditions including for temporary employees. It was accepted by a margin of 58% and will expire on June 30, 2019. Unifor represents nearly 400 people on the platform.

Talks with CN break down, two sides to regroup in January

MONTREAL, Dec. 18, 2014 /CNW/ - CN and Unifor have been unable to reach a new tentative collective agreement, after months of negotiations and long hours this week at the bargaining table. Unifor had four CN bargaining tables meeting concurrently since Monday morning, in Montreal. 

Unifor opened ne‎gotitiations with CN on September 19, in advance of the expiry of the current agreement on December 31, 2014.

Ontario to push for broad ORPP

TORONTO, Dec. 18, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor welcomes the opportunity for our local unions and members to participate in public consultations and to express their support for the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan and ideas for improving it, Unifor National President Jerry Dias says.  

Media Advisory - Container truck drivers to meet to discuss port protests

SURREY, BC, Dec. 18, 2014 /CNW/ - Container truck drivers servicing Port Metro Vancouver will be meeting to discuss action following Monday's proposal from the BC government for sector-wide wage cuts.

"A deal is a deal. Truck drivers have every right to expect that the wages and round-trip rates negotiated will be honoured," said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor's BC Area Director.