Bargaining

CN Rail negotiations to continue over the weekend in Montreal

Dear members,

Your bargaining committees had another challenging week with the company in Montreal.

Though the employer has not yet moved on key areas, we remain determined to push them to a collective agreement that respects the work of all members.

Therefore, we have decided to continue negotiations over the weekend.

Your solidarity has been critical in reaching this stage of negotiations. Together we have shown a united front behind members’ demands.

Letter to Premier Ford and Ministers McNaughton and Smith re: Windsor Salt strike

TO: The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario; The Honourable Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development of Ontario; The Honourable Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry

Dear Premier Ford and Ministers McNaughton and Smith,

SUBJECT: WINDSOR SALT LABOUR DISPUTE

Major wage gains and Cost of Living Allowance in new deal for Ingredion workers

Manufacturing workers at Ingredion – which processes corn into sweeteners and other products in Cardinal, Ont. – have ratified a new four-year agreement.

“This agreement recognizes the skill and hard work of our members at Ingredion,” said Local 483 President Bill Garlough. “There were no concessions in the new agreement.”

The 150 members of Local 483, which includes processing and Skilled Trades workers, voted to ratify the contract on March 3, 2023, by 82%.

The new agreement begins March 15, 2023, and expires April 14, 2027.

CN workers vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike action

TORONTO- Unifor members working at CN voted overwhelmingly in support of strike action amid ongoing negotiations in which CN has tabled a package of broad concessions.

Local 100 members voted 98%, and Council 4000 members voted 97% in favour of strike action. The earliest possible date of job action would be March 21, 2023, following a 72-hour notice.

Unifor fights for respect for Skilled Trades at Robinson Solutions Maintenance

The Robinson Solutions Maintenance unit from Unifor Local 222 in Oshawa, Ont. ratified a new agreement Feb. 28 at 84%, ensuring that members from Skilled and Semi-Skilled Trades get the respect they deserve.

“We made sure that our Skilled Trades workers had an hourly wage that reflected the global competitiveness of the skilled trades market,” said Local 222 President Jeff Gray. “These skilled workers deserve to be paid what they are worth. We are very proud that the goal was achieved. As the expression says, skilled labour isn’t cheap and cheap labour isn’t skilled.”

New collective agreement for workers at Jubilant Draximage

The 55 members of Unifor Local 197, working at Jubilant Draximage in Montreal, accepted the tentative agreement recommended by the negotiating committee at a meeting held last week.

"The negotiation process was long, but the outcome is more than positive,” said Hugues Perreault, Unifor Quebec National Representative. “I would like to acknowledge the exemplary work of the union committee and the rigor they demonstrated throughout this round of negotiations.”