SURREY—Members of Unifor Locals 111 and 2200 will open bargaining February 23 with Coast Mountain Bus Company.
Unifor members share an important goal with the region’s transit ridership: more busses and more bus service,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “Transit operators were on the front lines of the pandemic and maintenance staff kept the vehicles running. Transit workers are vital to the Lower Mainland’s economy and they deserve fair wages that keep pace with inflation.”
February 22, 2023 is Pink Shirt Day, when we can all take a stand against bullying. We too often see communities, workplaces, and families being divided. Through these divides, some have permitted, and even encouraged, bullying behaviours in the name of their cause.
This is harmful, and no matter the reason, we should never harm each other. Tomorrow, lets all wear pink t-shirts and send a unified message that we are standing up against any form of bullying.
MONTREAL – Unifor is concerned that a contract flip that resulted in Swissport losing its contract with Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport will potentially leave up to 150 Unifor members without jobs by the end of June.
VICTORIA—Unifor is back at the bargaining table with the Empress Hotel to negotiate a collective agreement that can serve as a template for upcoming negotiations in the hospitality sector.
“Unifor is a strong union for hotel workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Unifor members are leading by example and negotiating industry-leading contracts. What happens this spring at the Empress will help lead the way for our other negotiations.”
ST. CATHARINES-Unifor members at the General Motors (GM) St. Catharines Propulsion Plant will be the first Detroit Three facility in Canada to produce electric vehicle propulsion systems, securing a future role in the industry’s transition to EV manufacturing.
MONTREAL—After the federal government’s Request for Qualifications for the proposed High Frequency Rail (HFR) line, Unifor is calling on the transportation minister to provide clarity about the long-term plan for VIA Rail.
MONTREAL - Unifor announced today that the union has broken off talks with Canadian National Rail (CN) and will be commencing strike votes early next week.
“In this climate of massive profits CN is proposing a multitude of concessions demonstrating just how out of touch they are,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Our hard-working rail workers have made CN the profitable company that it is today and will not accept an agreement that attacks our union and devalues them and their work.”
WINDSOR—Concessionary demands for contracting out work are among the issues that will force Unifor Locals 1959 and 240 to begin legal strike action at Windsor Salt tonight at midnight.
“When the employer comes with concessions and schemes to bust the union, Unifor members are going to fight back every time,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Workers at Windsor Salt have the full backing of our union.”
MONTREAL - Unifor members at Canadian Pacific (CP) Rail have ratified a new two-year contract.
“Rail workers, just like workers in many sectors across Canada, are bargaining in particularly challenging conditions right now,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The members of the 101-R bargaining committee remained focused and committed to achieving a fair agreement for their membership. I applaud them for their work and look forward to their continued efforts to improve working conditions for their members in the future.”
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules and attending the ratification and strike vote meetings. We are please to report that the Local 101R membership has ratified the tentative agreement reached on January 13, 2023.
There is no other way to put it – this was a very difficult round of bargaining. Your bargaining committee was facing an employer who purposed concessions right off the bat. We knew we had our work cut out for us.
Health care workers at peopleCare long term care home in Tavistock, Ont. have voted to join Unifor.
“Health care workers across the country are demanding more for themselves and those that they care for,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Joining a union is the first step in improving the working and living conditions in long-term care homes. I welcome our newest members at peopleCare and look forward to bargaining a first collective agreement that respects, protects and adequately pays our members.”
TORONTO – Unifor Media Council is launching a new media discussion paper—Breaking the News: Media Workers Under Attack—which focuses on confronting the increasing harassment of media workers.
“We hear stories from our media members all the time about the hate, racism, homophobia and misogyny they face on a daily basis, online and in-the-field,” said Unifor Media Council Chair Julie Kotsis.
Three women journalists, two of whom are Unifor members, were recognized tonight at the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression gala in Toronto for their brave efforts to fight back against misogyny and their online abusers.
This year’s Tara Singh Hayer Award was presented to Toronto Star podcast co-host and producer Saba Eitizaz and Global News political reporter Rachel Gilmore, both Unifor members, and The Hill Times journalist Erica Ifill.
A private member’s bill with all-party support in the House of Commons currently before a Senate Committee could fundamentally improve pension security for retirees across the country.
Bill C-228, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985, would amend bankruptcy and insolvency legislation to give “super-priority” to funding the deficit of a pension plan.
ESTERHAZY, SK—Wage increases form the cornerstone of a new collective agreement ratified February 13, 2023 between Unifor Local 892 and Mosaic Potash Esterhazy Limited.
“Unifor members working at Mosaic stood united in their demands for a fair contract,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “They can be very proud of what they accomplished.”
TORONTO – Unifor is extremely concerned about the reported editorial interference at Queen’s Park Briefing (QP Briefing). These are serious allegations that undermine the integrity necessary for independent, fact-based journalism.
Unifor was made aware of allegations of editorial interference at QP Briefing late last week, which propelled a journalist and a management editor to resign in protest. The union strongly condemns any action that leads to this kind of editorial interference.
OTTAWA—Regulators at the City of Ottawa acted irresponsibly when they rushed through ride-sharing approvals without a plan to mitigate the impacts on the city’s taxi fleet, says Unifor.
“By capitulating to the demands of multinational tech giants, the local government set up a race to the bottom in the taxi industry and, in many cases, stripped workers of their retirement security,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The resulting two-tiered system was devastating for hundreds of families relying on incomes from taxi services.”
Skilled tradespeople from across Canada united at the Unifor Skilled Trades Collective Bargaining & New Technology Conference to discuss common issues and develop strategies to improve and grow the trades.
ST. JOHN’S - The Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal has ruled that Unifor’s challenge of an arbitrator’s decision affecting Exploits Valley Air Services (EVAS) pilots can go forward.
“The employer took advantage of the pandemic and denied pilots their recall rights as airline operations ramped back up, forcing them to unfairly re-start their careers upon their return,” said Jennifer Murray, Atlantic Regional Director. “Unifor will continue to fight for EVAS pilots and protect the rights enshrined in their collective agreement.”
Members of Unifor Local 677 in Unity, Sask. voted to ratify a new collective agreement, securing wage increases and the introduction of paid sick days.
“All workers need access to paid sick days, to keep our co-workers safe and so that people can take the time they need to get well when they’re under the weather. I’m proud that this contract makes paid sick days a reality for members,” said Ken Coons, Unifor Local 677 President.
The Unifor Skilled Trades Council and national Skilled Trades department are dedicated to raising standards and strengthening the Skilled Trades across Canada.
TORONTO – Unifor’s Social Justice Fund is making a $75,000 donation to the Humanitarian Coalition for the Türkiye and Syria Earthquake Relief Fund.
“The scale of the damage and suffering caused by these earthquakes is overwhelming, and the response must match the scale of the crisis,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The Humanitarian Coalition is bringing together international partners to support search and rescue and family reunification, as well as deliver vital aid including physical and mental health supports.”
They huddled in sleeping bags in the back of their cars and set up tents in parking lots in locations across Canada in a show of solidarity to tackle homelessness.
Unifor locals, members and staff participated in Raising the Roof’s “One Night” event on Feb. 7, 2023 to raise awareness and money for the organization’s homelessness prevention programs. Unifor's fundraising efforts reached over $70,000, contributing approximately half of the $142,261 total raised nation-wide at One Night events.
“During the past three difficult years, the members of the Air Traffic Specialists Association of Canada, Local 2245, continued to demonstrate their dedication and commitment to the safety of the flying public across this country,” said ATSAC President Elizabeth O’Hurley.
Members at Windsor Machine voted overwhelming to ratify a new three-year collective agreement that delivered wage gains, a signing bonus and a host of contract language improvements.
“This is a healthy deal that reflects a greater worth in our members,” said Unifor Local 444 President Dave Cassidy. “The committee's experience and knowledge of the workplace were vital to the process, they remained focused on our member's critical issues throughout negotiations. I commend them for their commitment to our Windsor Machine members.”
Under the banner of “WOMEN-LIFE-LIBERTY,” members of Unifor Quebec and Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier braved the cold on Feb. 4, 2023 to support the Iranian people at a demonstration in downtown Montreal.
"As a union, how can we not respond to this call for freedom?” said Cloutier, addressing the protesters. “That's why we are here, to join our voice to those millions of other voices calling for freedom, justice and security.”
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