On Sept. 3, 2025, Unifor’s Atlantic Communications Locals began bargaining with Bell in Charlottetown, PEI.
Key issues in this round of bargaining include protecting jobs, fair wages, and pension improvements.
“After years of cuts from Bell, our members are fighting for wages that keep up with the cost of living, job security, and building protections for the future,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
SYDNEY MINES, N.S.—Parents of children who attend Munro Academy Early Learning Centre (MAELC) will march to the Unifor Local 4600 picket line at 2 School Street in Sydney Mines, N.S. to show their support for the Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) on strike for fair pay.
SURREY—Unifor members from across Metro Vancouver will show support for the Local 3000 members on strike at the Sheraton Guildford with a lunch-hour rally.
“Hospitality workers are not disposable. Workers at the Sheraton Guildford are fighting for fairness at work,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director.
WINDSOR— Unifor members and local and national leaders joined supporters for a rally today outside Titan Tool & Die in Windsor after the company escalated its lockout of the plant’s veteran workers, removing equipment and raw materials from its Canadian facility, a move the union says signals production shifting to the U.S.
TORONTO—Today, Unifor confirmed plans that Stellantis will return the Windsor Assembly Plant to a three shift operation in the first quarter of 2026 and that General Motors has delayed plans to cut the third shift at the Oshawa Assembly Plant until at least January 30, 2026, validating the union’s efforts to pressure government and corporate decision-makers to protect Canadian jobs in the country’s vitally important auto sector.
Fall into opportunity — apply to the Local Union Equity Fund (LUEF) before the approaching deadline of Oct. 20.
The fund was created to encourage and support local unions who wish to step up their work on equity issues. It aims to support and broaden the work of equity-deserving groups within the union and encourage more locals to dedicate time and resources to equity campaigns and initiatives.
Locals wishing to submit projects for consideration for the next round of funding must submit an application form prior to the Oct. 20, 2025, deadline.
WINDSOR, ONT.— First Student Canada has served Unifor with formal notice that they will lock out members next Monday, Sept. 15 at 12:01 a.m.
“We will not be intimidated by this company’s bullying tactics,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“Our members will not accept an offer that underpays and undermines them.”
In its letter, the company also made it clear that benefits for the drivers will be suspended at the same time. The outstanding issue is drivers’ wages.
SYDNEY MINES, N.S.—Unifor Local 4600 members at Munro Academy set up their picket line at 7:00 a.m. this morning outside the Sydney Mines, N.S. day care after last efforts over the weekend failed to convince the employer to agree to a 40-hour per week schedule
Retirees from across Canada attended the Retired Workers Council from Aug. 31 to Sept. 5, 2025, to discuss political issues, march in the annual Port Elgin Labour Day parade, and to stand in solidarity with Canadian workers as they fight back against the tariff war initiated by the United States.
“For a lot of retirees, their kids are still working in the plants and they’re thinking of them,” said Barb Dolan, Unifor Retired Workers Director.
TORONTO—The federal government's decision to introduce biofuel production incentives is a significant step toward revitalizing the domestic energy sector and securing Canadian jobs, says Unifor.
TORONTO– Federal government measures announced today to support workers and sectors hit hardest by U.S. tariffs and trade disruptions include positive steps, but stronger action is still needed to protect workers and build resilient industries says Unifor.
DUNCAN, B.C.— After Transdev workers rejected the employer’s tentative offers that failed to close the wage gap in Victoria last month, Unifor is pleased to learn that Vince Ready has been appointed today as a new special mediator in the Transdev dispute.
The union, which represents Transdev transit operators, cleaners and mechanics in Cowichan Valley B.C. at Local 114 and HandyDART accessible transit operators at Local 333-BC, is looking forward to working with Ready, who has extensive knowledge and experience with prior transit strikes.
SYDNEY MINES, N.S.—A group of 23 women Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) at Munro Academy Early Learning Centre (MAELC) in Sydney Mines, N.S. are imploring their employer to agree to full-time hours to avoid a strike on Monday, September 8.
AMHERSTBURG, ON-Unifor is demanding transparency from Diageo, as the company plans to shut down its Amherstburg, Ontario plant while claiming Crown Royal will continue to be mashed, blended, aged, and distilled in Canada for all markets, including the U.S.
On Labour Day 2025, Unifor members, families, and allies filled Nathan Phillips Square and marched down Queen Street in Toronto with one message: Protect Canadian Jobs. From powerful speeches to the energy in the streets, this day was about standing together for workers, good jobs, and a fair future for all.
Premier Doug Ford slammed international liquor giant Diageo for cutting Unifor jobs and shifting production of Crown Royal out of Ontario - calling the company “dumb as a bag of hammers” as he poured out a bottle of the Canadian whisky.
At the September 2 media conference, the Premier went on to warn Diageo that the company is jeopardizing $740 million worth of business with the LCBO, its largest North American customer, all to save the $17 million it costs to pay Ontario workers.
WINDSOR, ONT.—Unifor won’t be intimidated by First Student Canada after the school bus company threatened to lock out its Windsor, Ont. school bus drivers if they refuse to take their offer, which continues to underpay and undermine the members.
“This is bordering on bad faith bargaining,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
This Labour Day, Unifor members gathered at events from coast to coast with one united message: Protect Canadian Jobs. As Trump’s tariffs continue to threaten Canada’s economy, workers gathered to build on the bold vision that Unifor has put forward to put workers first and to safeguard industries.
In Toronto, Ont., Unifor members gathered in Nathan Philips Square to share solidarity and union pride.
Unifor National President Lana Payne shared an important Labour Day message with the crowd.
Unifor National President Lana Payne delivered a fierce message to the Canadian government on the opening day of Unifor’s 5th Constitutional Convention — when it comes to giving into U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war demands — you’ll have to go through Unifor first.
“In this trade war, there is us and there is them. It’s no more complicated than that,” said Payne.
Unifor leadership led more than 1,500 members and supporters as they rallied at the union’s Constitutional Convention in downtown Vancouver to stand up for Canadian workers.
VANCOUVER—Unifor leadership led more than 1,500 members and supporters as they rallied at the union’s Constitutional Convention in downtown Vancouver to stand up for Canadian workers.
“We are going to do whatever it takes to protect Canadian jobs from destruction from Donald Trump,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“He wants to steal our jobs, to take our critical resources and undermine our democracy and our very sovereignty and he still sees us as the 51st state. This is the fight of our lives. And I want to be very clear – Trump will not win.”
With his family sitting among the thousands of Unifor Convention delegates, Rob Giroux accepted the 2025 Bud Jimmerfield Award, recognizing his decades of activism and commitment to advancing worker health and safety.
AMHERSTBURG, Ont.—Unifor members at the Diageo plant in Amherstburg, Ont. are prepared to fight to save the 170 union jobs following the company’s shock decision to close the Crown Royal bottling facility in February 2026.
Lana Payne vowed to continue fighting for workers everywhere in Canada after she won the election for the National President seat by a landslide today at Unifor’s Constitutional Convention in Vancouver.
“I’ve said already that it’s been an honour and a great privilege to be your national president. My honour today has grown three-fold,” Payne said in her acceptance speech.
“We have workers to defend, jobs to protect and a country and economy to get on track. And this country needs us. Canada needs this union. It needs the progressive force that we are.”
VANCOUVER—Lana Payne vowed to continue fighting for workers everywhere in Canada after she won the election for the National President seat by a landslide today at Unifor’s Constitutional Convention in Vancouver.
“It’s been an honour and a great privilege to be your National President. My honour today has grown three-fold,” Payne said in her acceptance speech.
“We have workers to defend, jobs to protect and a country and economy to get on track. And this country needs us. Canada needs this union. It needs the progressive force that we are.”
VANCOUVER—Unifor will rally tomorrow as more than a thousand attendees at the union’s Constitution Convention unite to ‘Protect Canadian Jobs.’
The union is committed to fighting back against the damaging effects of Trump’s trade war— including unjust tariffs on Canada’s steel, aluminium, softwood lumber and auto sectors.
“This is a rally cry for every Canadian worker. Let us be clear: No deal is better than a bad deal when it comes to tariffs,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
Join us as we stand together to protect Canadian jobs!
Unifor is proud to announce that Tanya Talaga, Indigenous journalist, author, and Unifor member, has been awarded the 2025 Neil Reimer Award for her impactful stories of Indigenous experiences in Canada.
“As a media union committed to truth and reconciliation, and solidarity with Indigenous communities across Canada, we are thrilled for the opportunity to acknowledge Tanya’s incredible work, and the ongoing importance of journalism and storytelling in promoting social justice,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
Unifor regional directors took the stage second day of Unifor’s 2025 Constitutional Convention in Vancouver to deliver their reports, sharing victories and struggles over the past three years.
Daniel Cloutier, who was recently elected Unifor Quebec Director for a second term, thanked the union’s leadership, staff and members for entrusting him for continuing to lead and carrying Unifor’s future vision from Quebec to every region.
VANCOUVER—Unifor awarded its highest honour, the Nelson Mandela Award, to the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS) in recognition of media workers’ dangerous and unrelenting coverage of the conflict in Gaza.
“We are proud to award the PJS for the incredible work to do and sacrifices they make to tell the world the truth about what is happening in Gaza,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
