On March 8 we celebrate, we mourn and we double down on our determination to do more.
International Women’s Day this year comes on the 50th anniversary of two important events – the abortion caravan to Ottawa and the Royal Commission on the Status of Women.
These landmarks are worth celebrating, even as we recognize the work that still needs to be done.
Members of Unifor’s predecessor unions were involved in the caravan, which began in Vancouver and made its way to Ottawa to push back against changes to Canada’s Criminal Code on abortion.
VICTORIA—The bargaining committee for Fairmont Empress hotel workers have reached a tentative agreement with the employer.
“Unifor is a union for hotel workers,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “I’m proud of the work accomplished by Local 4276 to lead the hospitality sector in British Columbia.”
Premier Jason Kenney’s second budget sends a clear message to working people that they don’t matter. His 2020 budget doesn’t create jobs, it kills them, while exposing Alberta’s most vulnerable to even more insecurity.
Kenney is doubling down on the same austerity strategy that has failed to produce results in Alberta or anywhere else in the world. His massive spending cuts coupled with tax breaks for the rich are the last thing Alberta needs.
VICTORIA—The Empress Hotel management’s push for concessions at the bargaining table has forced members of Unifor Local 4276 to serve strike notice for 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 7.
“The Empress’ owner needs to think again if he thinks we’re going to let him degrade working conditions,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “You can’t have a first-class hotel without first-class service and first-class working conditions.”
International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8 is a global day of celebration of women and women’s achievements. It was started by working women to call attention to poor pay and working conditions. It grew to include a call for women’s right to vote and stand for office. It is now a day to celebrate equality gains and recommit to action and persistence toward full equality for all equity-seeking groups.
EDMONTON—The Kenney government’s continued pursuit of a balanced budget at any cost will continue to harm workers and their families, says Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union.
“The speed at which Jason Kenney wants to balance the budget is purely ideological and will do significant harm to Alberta’s most vulnerable,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “There is simply no economic reason whatsoever to cut funding to schools and hospitals as Premier Kenney insists.”
February 27, 2020 WINDSOR– The decision by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to cut the third shift at the Windsor Assembly Plant will eliminate approximately 1,500 direct jobs, lead to significant job loss in the parts supply chain, and inflict damage to both the local and national economy. “Unifor is very disappointed that FCA was unable to find a solution that would have avoided job losses,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
School bus drivers, represented by Unifor Local 4268, have voted to ratify a new collective agreement following the sale of Campeau Bus Lines in Bowmanville, Ontario to First Student Canada.
We opened bargaining on Feb. 11 with BellMTS. This is where we brought your concerns about job security to the table and gave our proposals to the Company.
This is a very different set of negotiations for Unifor Local 7. The first set where Bell is fully in control of the company and directs the local BellMTS company bargaining team.
By now, the entire country is aware of the ten week long lockout at the Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) refinery in Regina. What fewer people know is the length to which the company has worked to prolong it. It has deftly used numerous systemic advantages to try to break our union. FCL has been let off the hook time and again. It has to stop.
On December 5, 2019, FCL locked out 730 members of Unifor Local 594 after walking back on its promise to keep workers’ pensions in place.
International Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Awareness Day is a critical opportunity for us to mobilize for better health and safety regulation, enforcement and to focus even more on protecting workers from devastating, life-altering injuries.
Unifor was disappointed to watch new scab trailers arrive at the Co-op Refinery yesterday, just a day after Federated Cooperatives Limited (FCL) agreed to begin talks with assistance of a provincially appointed special mediator to end the 71-day lockout.
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