Fires are ravaging the Northwest Territories and British Columbia, upending lives and leaving thousands in urgent need of help. Families are being forced to evacuate with little notice, and the scale of devastation is immense.
“In moments of crisis, our collective strength shines brightest when we come together to support those in need,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “As part of the Unifor community, our solidarity and compassion empower us to make a lasting impact during times of crisis.”
Canadian Council kicks off Unifor’s 10-year anniversary celebrations
The opening day of Unifor’s 2023 Canadian Council in Halifax, Nova Scotia, was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Delegates were officially welcomed by Gary Joseph, Indigenous Elder, to Mi’kma’ki, to the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.
VICTORIA—Unifor Local 114 members at the Victoria-Seattle ferry service have voted 100% in favour of taking legal strike action on Sunday, September 3 if a fair contract cannot be reached before then.
“Unless the employer shows up to the bargaining table with a fair offer, the Victoria Clipper will be anchored on one of the busiest tourism weekends of the year,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Ferry workers deserve a fair contract and will take job action if negotiations continue to stall.”
REGINA—The safety of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth is under threat after Sask Party Education Minister Dustin Duncan announced sudden, sweeping changes to education policy that will make some queer and trans students unsafe in the classroom.
Striking grocery workers have begun secondary picket lines at two Metro distribution warehouses in Toronto, in the fourth week of ongoing job action by 3,700 Unifor members.
Unifor’s Canadian Council focused on supporting mental health in the workplace on the third and final day.
Former Team Canada member, motivational speaker, and firefighter Kendra Fisher shared her personal journey with mental illness and the isolation that cost her the dream of playing hockey in the Olympics.
“To understand what anxiety feels like, I want you to image trying to put the treadmill up to an awkward speed. And on an incline. You’re going to start to feel that burn in your legs and feel out of breath,” said Fisher.
The second day of Unifor’s Canadian Council recognized striking and locked-out workers from Windsor Salt in Ontario, Les Autobus Venise in Quebec, Metro grocery stores in Greater Toronto Area, and Salvation Army workers in Langley, B.C.
This year’s Bud Jimmerfield Award is presented to Dave Churchill of Local 28, Unifor’s Health and Safety Policy Committee Co-Chair for Bell Technical Solutions (or BTS) Ontario.
In this position, Dave works to identify problems, risks, and hazards in what is recognized as one Canada’s most dangerous jobs. His dedication has resulted in creative ways to adapt to rapidly changing workplaces.
Resilience. Strength. We’ve come so far, but the fight doesn’t end here.
The first day of Unifor’s Canadian Council, on Aug. 18 in Halifax, N.S., brought together nearly 1,000 delegates from across the country to celebrate 10 years of solidarity since the Canadian Autoworkers’ Union (CAW) and Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) unions merged to form Unifor.
“This union was born in 2013 – as a bold act of hope and solidarity,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
Ten years of Pride doesn’t mean it was all rainbows.
At Canadian Council in Halifax this weekend, Unifor reflected on the past decade of progress of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, while acknowledging there is still much more work to do.
“I want our 2SLGBTQIA+ committees to know something: You will always have the support of this union to defend equality, to stand up for the most vulnerable in our society, to fight for safe spaces for everyone,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne in her speech on the first day of council.
Building worker power means growing ideas from the bottom up.
The Bargaining Workers’ Power National Collective Bargaining Program Summit, the special one-day conference on Aug. 17 – the day before the opening of Unifor’s Canadian Council in Halifax, N.S. – brought together nearly 1,000 members to hear the union unveil its new bargaining strategy.
“We are bargaining hard everywhere, because right now, we have a moment unlike any other,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne in her opening address.
MONTREAL- Unifor is encouraged by Ford’s commitment to invest in a battery cathode plant in Bécancour, Quebec, alongside Korean companies EcoProBM and SK On.
As the union representing 37,000 auto workers across the country, including Ford workers, Unifor welcomes this further commitment to re-invigorate Quebec’s auto industry and anchor the electric vehicle transition in Canada.
Workers at the Thunder Bay Alstom plant were shocked to learn that the federal and Ontario governments failed to officially allocate funding needed to purchase 80 subway trains for the TTC Line 2 operations and expansion. This failure caused the TTC to cancel its Request for Proposals (RFP) to purchase these vehicles. All levels of government have been actively aware of the urgency to fund this replacement for years.
Mr. Ron Gagnon
President and CEO Grand River Hospital
GRH KW Campus, 835 King St W, Kitchener, ON N2G 1G3
Dear Mr. Gagnon,
As the National President of Unifor, I am writing to address a matter of severe importance concerning the ongoing reopener bargaining negotiations for our members at Grand River Hospital.
Members, leaders and staff gathered in Moncton, NB, for Atlantic Regional Council, the union's democratic regional event to direct the union's priorities and share updates on progress and struggles.
TORONTO—Unifor officially opened contract negotiations with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis today on behalf of 18,000 union members at the Detroit Three.
After months of intense negotiations and overcoming significant challenges, the members of Local 27 have emerged victorious with a ground-breaking new contract at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC).
The deal, hailed as a triumph for workers' rights and fair compensation, encompasses a diverse array of job titles and sets new standards for wage enhancements and benefit improvements.
Today, Unifor officially opens contract talks with the Canadian divisions of the Detroit Three automakers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. These talks will be the most consequential and closely watched in decades.
The 18,000 Unifor members covered by these collective agreements head into negotiations with similar challenges to what workers are facing across the industrial sector.
Wages haven’t kept up with rising inflation and certainly don’t reflect the recent record-setting profits of employers.
TORONTO— Unifor begins formal contract talks with Detroit Three (D3) automakers, Ford, General Motors and Stellantis on August 10, 2023.
"Our bargaining teams are ready to get to the table and start negotiations on behalf of 18,000 Unifor members covered by these contracts,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Our mission is clear. Our members want stronger pensions, better wages and a secure future in the transition to electric vehicle manufacturing."
TORONTO— More than 250 members at Unifor Local 591-G have ended their five-day-long strike after ratifying a new collective agreement with Active Dynamics.
“Congratulations to the bargaining team at Local 591-G for so firmly representing the needs of members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
Toronto – Unifor denounces the recent termination of Mark Chudak, President of the Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA) by SNC-Lavalin in what the union perceives as a hostile anti-union move.
Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray joined Local 597 President Carolyn Wrice and Unifor members in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador to appear in a media briefing alongside NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to talk about the affordability crisis.
Members of Local 4211 in Ontario and Local 4319 in Quebec who work for the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation have rejected the tentative agreement presented to them at a July 12 meeting.
“The members of Locals 4211 and 4319 have spoken, and I know that the bargaining committee is determined to obtain a good agreement for these workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “We know the job isn’t done until the membership approves the deal.”
The hard-fought negotiations between Unifor and Quinte Hospital have resulted in 98% of the membership ratifying the landmark tentative agreement.
“The agreement signifies a significant step forward for the healthcare professionals who tirelessly served their communities during the pandemic,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The wage increases and adjustments provide much-needed recognition of members’ contributions and dedication, will boost morale and address long-standing concerns over wage disparities.”
Dryden, Ontario - About 25 members of Unifor Local 324-18 voted 100% in favour of a new 3 year contract with Community Support Centre NW at ratification meetings held on Wednesday. Community Support Centre NW is a multi-service organization providing a variety of diverse support programs for children, youth, adults and families living in Dryden, Kenora and Fort Frances.
TORONTO-Unifor Local 4209 members were told to simply not report for work as YRC Freight Canada’s U.S.-based parent company, Yellow, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Toronto—National and local Unifor leaders and front-line Metro grocery workers will hold a media availability on Saturday, July 29, at 10:30 a.m. at a Metro store picket line.
Toronto—Frontline grocery workers at 27 Metro stores in the GTA will begin strike action on Saturday, July 29, at 12:01 a.m., with picket lines forming at each store at 8:00 a.m.
The strike action comes after Unifor Local 414 members voted to reject a tentative collective agreement.
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