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February 07, 2020 REGINA – Unifor is outraged at the actions of the Regina Police Service to deny lawful picketing by locked-out workers at Co-op Refinery. “Regina Police blocking access to picket locations at the bidding of Co-op Refinery is a clear violation of Charter rights,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. This morning Regina Police blocked access on Ninth Avenue North between McDonald and Winnipeg streets to all picketers while escorting Co-op trucks through to the refinery as uniformed officers checked the trucker’s names off lists at the barriers.

February 7, 2020

WINDSOR– Members of Unifor Local 2458 at Schlegel long-term care facilities will be available to speak to media with details on the breakdown in negotiations with the employer.

“The success of these negotiations must be the dignified care of long-term care residents through proper respect paid to the workers who provide them hands-on care each and every day – anything less than that is unacceptable,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. 

Members of the media are invited to attend the media availability:

Black History Month Unifor members speak on activism.

UE's officers sent the following letter of solidarity today to Unifor Local 594, whose members have been locked out for 64 days.

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REGINA –Today Unifor outlined a path to immediately end the lockout at the Co-op Refinery and return Local 594 members back to work as early as Monday.

“The decision by Co-op Refinery to lock out its employees is hurting not just the workers but the people of Saskatchewan and Co-op could easily end it today,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

Unifor is calling for the Saskatchewan government to agree to the appointment of a mediator with the power to implement a binding settlement. 

The path to end the lockout includes:

Several rallies will be held over the coming weeks as part of the Bell Real Talk campaign aimed at denouncing practices that have a harmful effect...

After being on strike for two and a half months, members of Unifor Local 252 at Voith Hydro have ratified a new collective agreement.

February 1, 2020

Every February, Unifor celebrates Black History Month to honour the contributions Black Canadians have made and continue to make in our workplaces and communities.

Black History Month has been officially marked in Canada since 1995 following a motion introduced in the House of Commons by the first Black Canadian woman elected to parliament, the Honourable Jean Augustine. This month continues to provide an opportunity to reflect on the unique challenges facing Black communities and individuals.

February 5, 2020

REGINA– Regina Police have escalated their action against the peaceful, family-focused Unifor picket lines surrounding the Co-op Refinery, arresting four people early this morning.

Unifor continued its negotiations with Canada's national passenger rail provider, VIA Rail Canada, the week of January 28-31.  Both Unifor bargaining committees, National Council 4000 (1,600 members servicing Agreements 1 & 2) and Local 100 (600 members servicing Agreement 3), met with the Crown corporation last week in Montreal.

Both committees discussed a variety of work rule issues that cover the working conditions of our 2,200 Unifor members who work across Canada. Both committees report that talks to this point have been slow but constructive.

Unifor is ready to bargain a fair deal to end the 60-day lockout but executives at Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) have proven they have no intent to bargain in good faith after their disrespectful conduct last Friday.

REGINA—Federated Co-operatives Limited’s newest refusal to bargain in good faith demonstrates a new level of company dishonesty, says Unifor.

“Saskatchewan workers have the right to stand up to greedy employers like this one— but Co-op continues to add new concessions to attack refinery workers,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Rogue Co-op executives never had any intention of bargaining- Premier Moe needs to wake up and show some leadership.”

To the Honourable Premier Scott Moe,

We are writing to request that you immediately order Federated Co-operatives Limited to participate in binding arbitration to end the labour dispute with Unifor local 594.

Saskatchewan’s workers are facing an unequal battle for a better future and a fair retirement. Nearly 800 families in Regina have been locked-out from their workplace since December 5, 2019 because Co-op refuses to negotiate with its employees.

REGINA—The union representing locked-out refinery workers will hold a media conference at 10 a.m. to report on the status of the protracted labour dispute.

 “We want a to find common ground for a fair contract, but Co-op has not moved off of the same insulting concessions first tabled last year,” said Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to the National President and lead negotiator.

Members of the media are invited to attend the media availability:

What: Media Availability

Negotiations between Unifor Local 252 and Voith Hydro resumed on January 30, as strike action entered its twelfth week.

January 30, 2020 KITCHENER – Unifor Local 4304 members working at Grand River Transit have ratified a new collective agreement with the transit service, bringing strike action to an end. “Unifor is the union for transit workers in Canada, and this collective agreement shows that we can negotiate the contracts that best address the needs of transit workers,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “Our bargaining committee was committed to addressing the priorities of members leading into this set of negotiations, and that is reflected in the results.

January 29, 2020

REGINA—Unifor National President Jerry Dias will give an update to media at 4:30 p.m., responding to Federated Cooperatives Limited (FCL) recent statements concerning the now 55-day lockout.

Nearly 800 highly skilled members of Unifor Local 594 remain locked out from the Co-op Refinery after refusing to accept major concessions. 

Members of the media are invited to attend the media availability:

What:                  Media Availability 

Unifor applauds the call to require internet TV services that access the Canadian market to support Canadian content, as recommended in the final report of the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review Panel (BTLRP).

January 28, 2020 WATERLOO REGION – Unifor Local 4304 and Grand River Transit (GRT) have reached a new tentative collective agreement, following more than a week of strike action at the transit utility. “On the line, and throughout bargaining, members were united in their call to improve safety and working conditions. That message was clearly heard,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

January 28, 2020

VANCOUVER—Unifor has released a new report that says artificially low catch limits over the past 25 years pushed the West Coast salmon fishing industry to the brink, leaving it unable to cope with the 2019 crisis.

Unifor and Grand River Transit have agreed to return to the bargaining table on Tuesday, January 28 at 11:00 am.

January 23, 2020

HALIFAX – Unifor has joined with Northern Pulp and nine individuals representing the broader forestry industry in a request for judicial review filed today in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.  The application seeks a review of Nova Scotia Environment’s (NSE) December 17, 2019 decision regarding Northern Pulp’s proposed effluent treatment facility (ETF) project.

Unifor is disappointed but not surprised at Federated Co-operatives Limited’s (FCL) refusal to accept the union’s offer today to return to the bargaining table.

Unifor delivered a strong deputation to the City of Toronto’s Budget committee to warn that excessive delays in the purchase of at least 60 new...

Unifor Atlantic Regional Director Linda MacNeil is voicing concern around a plan by the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness to create...

Winnipeg Free Press reporter and Unifor member Katie May is one of the first winners of a new international journalism award for her reporting...

Unifor Local 2003E members at Vopak Terminals of Canada Inc. in Hamilton, Ontario voted to adopt aa new collective agreement that includes a large....