Bargaining

TORONTO–E-commerce warehouse workers at HBC Logistics have voted overwhelming at 80% to accept a new tentative agreement, ending a nine-day strike action.

“These workers stood firm with the full weight of Unifor behind them to successfully fight for retroactive pay to cover the time that they worked during the pandemic without a contract,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi.

Windsor Star workers have overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year contract that provides annual improvements to wages, an additional statutory holiday and language aimed at protecting the news organization's journalists from online bullying and harassment. 

“This collective agreement represents real gains in the media sector – both wage increases and addressing the harassment being faced by journalists today,” Unifor Secretary-Treasurer Lana Payne said. “Congratulations to all the members for this deal.”

TORONTO- Unifor will seek judicial review of an arbitration award that set the new terms of collective agreements covering hundreds of long-term care workers that continues a trend of failing workers in the sector.

CHATHAM – Health care workers are taking their issues right to Chatham, Ont.’s Riverview Gardens after they say negotiations have broken down.

Negotiations have broken down between Unifor Local 127 and Riverview Gardens, a Home for the Aged operated by the municipality.

“Throughout the pandemic, our members have always put residents of long-term care first and they demand fair pay and respect,” said Katha Fortier, Assistant to Unifor’s National President. “It’s time Riverview Gardens listened.”

TORONTO–Striking e-commerce warehouse workers at HBC Logistics will vote on a tentative agreement reached between the company and Unifor Local 40’s bargaining committee. 

“I congratulate the bargaining committee on reaching a tentative agreement for these workers, primarily women with the majority being newcomers, who literally carried The Bay through the pandemic,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi. 

Dear Members,

Bell Clerical and Bell Aliant commenced bargaining in February.  From the start, it was the desire of our bargaining committees to utilize the collective power we have in numbers at some point in bargaining. Both groups have bargained separately thus far.

Our bargaining agendas include common themes of better wages, work from home policy and job security. Both bargaining tables also share a common denominator: Bell’s lead negotiator is the same at both tables.

Kleenzone workers who provide cleaning services at the Sanofi Pasteur Plant in Toronto will achieve significant pay hikes and improved benefits through a new four-year collective agreement. 

“With inflation as a key concern, these members stood together and pushed the company to improve wages,” said Mike Hill, Unifor Local 1701 President. “As a result, their bargaining committee was able to deliver an immediate $2 an hour increase with additional pay increases in each year of the contract.”

Wage increases and a comprehensive benefits package are highlights of a new three-year first collective agreement with Plains Midstream near Windsor.

“The members of this unit identified problems in the workplace, organized a union, and bargained a solid collective agreement,” said John Dagnolo, Unifor Local 200 president. “They should be very proud of taking action to have a voice in their workplace.”

TORONTO–More than 330 e-commerce warehouse workers at HBC Logistics (The Bay) began strike action at noon today. Negotiations broke down suddenly after the company refused to offer an increase in compensation for the past year, when workers continued to provide services without a contract during the pandemic.

WINNIPEG—Unifor Local 681 will hold a rally at Manitoba Hydro Place as part of the second day of picket line action against the employer and join the leader of the opposition to call for a legislative committee to hear testimony on the impasse. 

“With record profits forecasted for the employer, we call on Premier Heather Stefanson to answer questions about why gas workers in the province are being denied the same wage increases awarded to other Crown workers,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director.