TORONTO – Premier Doug Ford’s announcement of yet another provincial State of Emergency lacks the commitment to mass vaccinations and paid sick days that are required to stop the spread of COVID-19.
WINNIPEG—Tax cut gimmicks and a manufactured crisis in education will not protect Manitobans and build the economy, says Unifor.
“It is a dangerous move to reduce the government’s fiscal capacity when it has so much important and life-saving work to do,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Manitobans need strong public services and Crown corporations, not an experiment in conservative ideology.”
Last week’s budget made some important, headline-making investments, but when you consider the details, these broad announcements still do not cover the gaps that Nova Scotia’s workers need filled.
The budget announced that funding for continuing care, including long-term care and home care would increase by 13% over the 2020 budget plan, topping the $1 billion mark for the first time.
REGINA—If Saskatchewan’s families were looking for leadership in the latest provincial budget, they will be sorely disappointed, says Unifor.
“The Scott Moe government seems content to coast along while families are struggling,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Unifor has been calling for the provincial government to help the province’s most vulnerable with a boost to the minimum wage and employer-paid sick leave but those calls were unanswered in today’s budget.
VANCOUVER—The B.C. government needs to stand up to a handful of business lobbyists and implement paid vaccination leave and paid sick leave, said Unifor.
“As it stands, workers are paying to take time off work to be vaccinated,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “Workers don’t need the bare minimum to defeat COVID-19, they need every possible opportunity to be vaccinated without financial penalty.”
TORONTO- Unifor supports the proposed combination of Canadian Pacific (CP) with Kansas City Southern (KCS).
“This new North American single-line will drive growth not only in Canada, but across the continent,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “This powerful combination will be good for Unifor members in rail, and allows CP and KCS to fully utilize the USMCA to serve customers in all three countries.”
Unifor represents 1,400 workers at CP in Canada, and 9,200 rail workers across the country.
TORONTO—Unifor is calling on all provinces to mandate paid time off to allow workers to get vaccinated when it is their turn to do so.
“While some good employers out there are already doing this, most are not and won’t unless government forces them to just do the right thing,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
The refrain “if you’re sick, stay home” is not just smart workplace policy, it’s also smart public health policy.
Of course, COVID-19 has elevated the importance of this approach to new levels. Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces is a matter of life and death.
This month the premier acknowledged the link between provincial workplace policies and public health by legislating paid time off for workers to get the vaccine.
It’s time to take the next step and legislate employer-paid sick leave for all Saskatchewan’s workers.
GODERICH—Members of Unifor Local 16-O working at Compass Minerals have ratified a new collective agreement that secures many of the outstanding issues from the 2018 strike.
“Skilled bargaining combined with collective strike action in 2018 made this contract possible,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Bargaining broke down on Tuesday, March 30th between your bargaining committee and Bell.
Despite the assistance of a federal conciliation officer, the company would not move on the priorities of members. Your union remains committed to reaching a fair collective agreement.
It is clear that progress will not be made until pressure on the employer increases.
Your union will now focus on the immediate need to resolve the essential services issue in front of the Canadian Industrial Relations Board.
In an international webinar hosted by the North American Solidarity Project, front-line workers from Canada, the U.S., and Mexico shared experiences from the last year and discussed using what they've learned to improve working conditions for all workers.
Unifor recognizes and invites all members to celebrate the International Transgender Day of Visibility tomorrow, March 31. This annual day celebrates the value and resilience of transgender people both within the union and around the world.
Trans people are those who identify with a gender other than the one assigned at birth, and exist within all countries, communities and religious groups around the world. This identity is separate from an individual’s sexual orientation.
The Honourable Mona Fortier Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Financ
Thank you for the recent opportunity to discuss the urgent need for an intersectional feminist recovery program. The budget is a key element in making this a reality.
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