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TORONTO, May 16, 2014 /CNW/ - Raising wages for workers in the temporary foreign workers program and increasing the fees paid by companies is a good start, but does nothing to make the workers any less vulnerable, Unifor National President Jerry Dias says.

OAKVILLE, ON, May 15, 2014 /CNW/ - Despite attempts by Unifor to keep contract talks going, workers at soap manufacturer JemPak GK Inc. in Oakville have been locked out by the company.

Security guards escorted the workers off the property today at around noon.

VANCOUVER, May 14, 2014 /CNW/ - Members of Unifor Local 114 at Cascade Aerospace have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action if necessary, citing the employer's aggressive calls for concessions for taking the vote.

"Our members make Cascade the successful company that it is, and we have no intention of giving up massive concessions," said Gavin McGarrigle, BC Area Director.

FREDERICTON, May 10, 2014 /CNW/ - After a months-long campaign led by Unifor activists in New Brunswick, the federal government has agreed to provide funding to repair train tracks between Miramichi and Bathurst which will allow passenger rail service to continue in the Maritimes.

MONTREAL, May 9, 2014 /CNW/ - A tentative agreement was reached yesterday between Unifor and Resolute Forest Products. If ratified, this agreement will become the pattern agreement for the pulp and paper industry in Eastern Canada. This is the first major round of bargaining for Unifor since its creation.

MONTREAL, May 8, 2014 /CNW/ - Hassan Yussuff has been elected president of the 3.3-million-member Canadian Labour Congress, the first worker of colour to hold the position.

"I'm truly honoured to be the next CLC president," Yussuff told the CLC convention where he was elected May 8. "You have voted for change, you have voted for a strong labour movement."

FORT MCMURRAY, AB, May 8, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor is mourning the loss of life at the Suncor worksite on Wednesday. A Unifor Local 707A member was mauled by a bear on the job.

"Unifor offers our deepest condolences to our member's family," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

The name of the oilsands worker is not being released at this point.

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety will be investigating.

365 workers in Toronto are on strike after negotiations with Nestle broke down

SYDNEY, NS, May 2, 2014 /CNW/ - The union workers responsible for securing cruise ships at port are celebrating as the sudden decision to replace them with non-union workers is reversed. This reversal comes days before a planned demonstration at the port by the workers, the labour movement and community.

TORONTO, May 1, 2014 /CNW/ - "Today's budget will make a positive difference in the lives of working families in Ontario - and should be supported by the NDP," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

EDMONTON, May 1, 2014 /CNW/ - The Alberta government plans to create loopholes in private pension plan legislation that threatens to reduce incomes for tens of thousands of seniors, says Canada's largest union in the private sector. The changes introduced in Bill 10 came without any notice or consultation.

VICTORIA, May 1, 2014 /CNW/ - It's like David and Goliath: A small indigenous group and a tiny non-profit squaring off against international energy companies backed by the provincial and federal government.

But Forest Action Network director Zoe Blunt says she likes the odds.

The Victoria-based eco-group has a record of winning against oversized opponents, Blunt says. "We have lawyers and we're ready to fight."

TORONTO, April 30, 2014 /CNW/ - Several representatives of Canada's largest union in the private sector, including National President Jerry Dias, will be at Queen's Park on May 1 to watch the release of the Ontario government's 2014 budget, and will be available for immediate comment.

TORONTO, April 29, 2014 /CNW/ - The announcement by the Ontario government that it will boost the wages of Personal Support Workers in the province is a welcome first step in addressing serious concerns in the homecare industry, says the president of Canada's largest union in the private sector.

MONTRÉAL, April 25, 2014 /CNW/ - Negotiations to renew nineteen collective agreements between Resolute Forest Products and Unifor began on Tuesday April 22, covering close to 2,000 members in Québec and Ontario. The result of these negotiations will serve as the pattern for negotiations involving another 8,000 members in the Eastern Canadian pulp and paper industry.

SYDNEY, NS, April 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor Local 4624 workers brought their case before Mayor Cecil Clarke to discuss concerns about the future of their jobs. Stevedores at the Sydney waterfront were told they no longer had jobs after the Sydney Ports Corp. decided to hire non-unionized workers ahead of the upcoming cruise ship season.

TORONTO, April 14, 2014 /CNW/ - Despite a last-minute amendment removing the worst part of the Harper government's anti-labour Bill C-525, the newly passed bill is still a big step backward for labour law in this country. Unifor, Canada's biggest union in the private sector is calling for it to be defeated in the Senate.

PRINCE GEORGE, BC, April 11, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor and other organizations representing the forestry industry will be hosting a community discussion on the future of Northern British Columbia's forests.

CHARLOTTETOWN, April 10, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor Atlantic Director Lana Payne was chosen as one of 23 Women of Bold Vision from a long list of distinguished and accomplished nominees. The recognition is meant to highlight Canadian women who have demonstrated great passion and commitment to Canadian society, specifically with regards to women's issues.

HALIFAX, April 4, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor National President Jerry Dias will lead a march to protest Bill 37 on Friday, April 4 in Halifax. Dias, with a group of activists from across the Atlantic Provinces, will march to speak out against the anti-worker legislation.

KITCHENER, ON, April 3, 2014 /CNW/ - Today Unifor announced it will escalate its campaign to unionize Toyota.

Unifor announced that while it is withdrawing its Labour Board application to become the bargaining agent for team members at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, the labour union remains committed to working with Toyota team members to form a union and improve working conditions at the company.

KITCHENER, ON, April 3, 2014 /CNW/ - The next step in the effort by Toyota team members to gain a voice in their workplace through unionization will be announced at a press conference this afternoon in Kitchener.

OTTAWA, April 3, 2014 /CNW/ - Employees of the RA Centre have voted 95 per cent to reject their employer's latest contract offer, after it asked the Ontario Ministry of Labour to force a vote. Unifor says a strike vote will be conducted soon, and employees could be in a strike position as early as April 10, 2014.

Unifor represents two groups of employees at Ottawa's RA Centre.

HALIFAX, April 2, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor local leaders and activists from across the Atlantic Provinces will gather at the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax from April 3 to 6 to meet as a regional council for the first time since the formation of the union. Over 250 delegates will meet to strategize about campaigns and elect their Atlantic Executive Board and committees.

CAMBRIDGE, ON, April 1, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, Unifor released a "Charter" outlining the changes Toyota team members want at their workplace - and how Unifor would address team members' primary concerns.

Yesterday, Unifor announced that it has applied to be the bargaining agent for team members at Toyota. Team members will likely vote next week.

Today Unifor filed to be the certified bargaining agent for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada.

KITCHENER/TORONTO, March 29, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor will be making an important announcement about the status of its unionization efforts at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada's Cambridge and Woodstock major auto plants, at a press conference on Monday at 10 a.m. in Kitchener, Ontario.

KITCHENER/TORONTO, ON, March 29, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor will be making an important announcement about the status of its unionization efforts at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada's Cambridge and Woodstock major auto plants, at a press conference on Monday at 10 a.m. in Kitchener, Ontario.

OTTAWA, March 28, 2014 /CNW/ - Bargaining has stalled between Unifor local 4270 and the employer at The Recreation Association of the Public Service of Canada. The Recreation Association has two bargaining units, with one side having been recently organized. The employer initially refused to bargain with the newly-organized unit, but presented a final offer for both groups and applied to the Ministry of Labour for a vote. 

FORT MCMURRAY, AB, March 26, 2014 /CNW/ - A majority of an Arbitration Panel has ruled that the random drug and alcohol testing of all employees at a Suncor site outside of Fort McMurray violates the fundamental rights of workers to privacy, respect, and dignity in the workplace and cannot be justified in the circumstances.