ST. JOHN’S–Unifor members working at 11 Dominion stores across the island of Newfoundland ratified a new collective agreement, voting 88% in favour. The agreement follows a supermarket pattern set in summer 2023 by the union and secured at Metro supermarkets in Ontario.
Unifor members and staff joined the annual Steps for Life event in Toronto’s Coronation Park on Sunday, April 28, the Day of Mourning. The walk is hosted by Threads of Life, an organization that supports those impacted by workplace illness, injury and death and fights to end workplace tragedies.
Unifor has reached a tentative three-year agreement with Nasittuq Corporation, where Unifor members from Local 2002 work at the Canadian Forces Station Alert in the Qikiqtaaluk region of Nunavut.
Highlights of this contract include increased wages, benefits, premiums, allowances, and vacation pay after five years of service, as opposed to the previous 10-year mark.
Unifor Local 21-A Bargaining Committee, representing workers at GATX Rail Canada in Red Deer, Alta., have reached a four-year tentative collective agreement with the company.
The agreement is pending ratification by the members of GATX Local 21-A in Red Deer. The tentative agreement includes retroactive wage increases totaling 14% over its term, a $1,000 monthly boost in Long Term Disability benefits, and enhanced contributions by the company to the employees’ pension plan.
TORONTO – Critical multi-government investment for new Honda Canada electric vehicle, battery and battery material facilities will further bolster Canada’s auto sector and help secure and grow jobs across the value chain.
The projected $15 billion investment to assemble new electric vehicles, build a new battery cell plant in Alliston, Ontario alongside additional joint venture battery component and material facilities in Ontario is expected to create an estimated 1,000 new, direct jobs.
WINGHAM—Today, Unifor members rallied outside the Wescast plant in Wingham, Ontario. The protest is in response to Wescast Industries continued refusal to pay approximately $10 million in severance and termination pay owed to workers who were laid off in 2023 following the Company’s decision to cease foundry operations.
Unifor members who work at WM Hamilton – a commercial waste removal and recycling facility in Stoney Creek, Ont. – voted 93% in favour of a strike, as talks continue to a deadline of May 2 at midnight.
“We have a toxic work environment with poor moral and multitude of violations of the collective bargaining agreement with open grievances and arbitrations that we need to deal with before we can move forward with respect,” said Local 4268 President Debbie Montgomery.
WINGHAM—Unifor members will stage a protest at the Wescast plant in Wingham, Ontario tomorrow at 11 a.m. against the company’s China-based owners for withholding an estimated $10 million from workers.
Unifor’s regional equity committees gathered in Toronto from April 16-19 for a National Equity Training Summit to build solidarity and advance the important work of enhancing equity in our union and beyond.
Particularly when it comes to journalists and media workers who are risking their lives to cover and deliver quality, fact-based journalism.
On May 3, we mark the 31st anniversary of World Press Freedom Day and celebrate the victories and highlight the worldwide challenges of maintaining a free press. Freedom of the press is an essential cornerstone to a democratic society, and like anything worth having we need to continually fight for it.
Unifor welcomes new members at Pelee Island Winery and Vineyards Inc. in Kingsville, Ont., who joined the union this week.
“The best way to improve your workplace is to organize,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We are thrilled that these brave and dedicated winery workers have chosen our union to stand by them and fight for them for good jobs, fair wages and respect.”
On May 1st, Unifor joins unions across Canada and around the globe to mark International Workers’ Day – a day where we celebrate workers and the labour movement – from our collective victories to our common struggles.
Unifor celebrates Asian Heritage Month, that occurs annually each May. Together we honour and commemorate the culture and history of Asian communities in Canada.
TORONTO–Unifor expects to achieve the wage increases and benefit improvements awarded to Ontario OCHU-CUPE and SEIU Healthcare members by Arbitrator William Kaplan in a recent decision.
BRAMPTON—Fifty workers remain on strike this week at the flagship headquarters of MDA Space while the company refuses to continue negotiations and resolve the labour dispute.
With a growing attack on labour rights and democracy in many places of the world, trade union leaders with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) gathered in London, U.K. in April to discuss common struggles, organizing and strategic campaigns to win for workers.
Unifor National President Lana Payne and Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray represented Unifor.
As the Canadian Air Navigation Specialists Association (CANSA) at Unifor Local 1016 continued to negotiate with NAV Canada on the Maintenance of Activities in the event of a legal strike and/or lock-out to protect the Canadian travelling public, the company has advised the local it plans to use scab labour.
April 28 is the Day of Mourning, a day to remember workers who have died or become injured because of their work. It is also a time to renew our commitment to building safe workplaces and fighting for the safety of all workers.
Close to 1,000 workers in Canada die each year in workplace incidents.
This is a staggering statistic, but those who are lost must be more than one number among many.
WINDSOR – Unifor members at GreenShield Canada look forward to returning to work after ratifying a new three-year contract by 92% in Windsor and 91% in Toronto with the company, ending a strike that began on March 1.
“I am so very proud of this bargaining committee and these members for standing up and fighting to protect good jobs for women for today and into the future,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We can’t advance equality in this country without the power of trade union women fighting on all fronts.”
Unifor members at the Courtyard by Marriott and the W Toronto hotel have voted overwhelmingly to strike if a new collective agreement cannot be reached next month.
“Hospitality sector workers are feeling the pinch of the rising cost of living in one of the most expensive housing markets in the country,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “It is critical that collective agreements keep up with rising costs so workers don’t fall behind.”
OTTAWA –Unifor recognizes the federal government for delivering a budget that pushes social progress and jobs in the face of economic inequities, relentless affordability pressures and stubbornly high interest rates.
“Working people in Canada have been struggling with an affordability crisis, exacerbated by the Bank of Canada’s stubborn refusal to lower interest rates,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
VANCOUVER—Unifor is temporarily withdrawing its applications to the B.C. Labour Relations Board (BCLRB) to represent workers at two Amazon fulfilment centres in Metro Vancouver due to a suspiciously high number of reported employees.
WINNIPEG—Unifor Local 144 members at Griffin Wheel – a Winnipeg foundry that produces train wheels – have ratified a new four-year contract, ending a 19-day lockout.
ST. JOHN’S–Unifor reached a tentative agreement with Loblaw-owned Dominion stores in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Details of the tentative agreement will first be shared with Dominion members of Unifor Local 597 in a series of ratification meetings to be scheduled in the coming days.
Unifor represents more than 1,600 Dominion grocery workers at 11 stores across the island of Newfoundland.
The Canadian Air Navigation Specialists Association (CANSA) at Unifor Local 1016 met with Nav Canada with the assistance of the FMCS Conciliator for a third time on April 10 and 11 without any progress towards reaching a fair deal. The parties are now at an impasse as conciliation ended on April 12.
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