Striking Transdev workers rallied outside BC Transit’s headquarters in Victoria on April 15 fighting for respect and dignity when it comes to working conditions, pensions and wage disparity.
Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi, Health Care Director Kellee Janzen, and Assistant to the National Officers Kelly-Anne Orr kicked off the first leg of across-country tour with stops in Ontario, including Windsor, Chatham, Port Elgin, Kitchener, and Toronto.
Each May, Unifor celebrates Asian Heritage Month by recognizing the important contributions and rich cultural heritage of Asian and South Asian communities in Canada.
The theme for the 2025 Asian Canadian Heritage Month is “Asian Canadian Legacy: We Contribute. We serve.”, which reflects the spirit of solidarity at the heart of Unifor’s work—where Asian members have long strengthened our union through their leadership, service, and unwavering commitment to justice.
DUNCAN, B.C.— Unifor members have rejected Transdev’s latest offer, continuing a strike now in its 11th week. The dispute centers on wage disparities between Transdev workers and other B.C. transit employees, particularly in Victoria and Vancouver.
"Our union will continue to stand strong alongside our transit members to achieve fairness in a region with a rapidly growing cost of living," Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Our members deserve fair wages that reflect today’s affordability challenges.”
Unifor members, leaders, and supporters will unite in strength and solidarity at the Protect Canadian Jobs Rally on Saturday, April 26 at 1 p.m. at Riverfront Festival Plaza in Windsor, Ontario.
“Workers are in the fight of our lives. Trump’s trade war is already triggering layoffs, killing jobs, and causing damage to future investment,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “U.S. tariffs threaten jobs across all sectors. This is a battle to defend the livelihoods of every Canadian worker.”
On April 28, Canadians observe the National Day of Mourning to honour workers who have lost their lives, been injured, or become ill due to workplace incidents. This day is a reminder of the importance of prioritizing health and safety in every workplace. It encourages reflection, remembrance, and engagement on our shared commitment to preventing future tragedies by creating safer working environments for all.
Toronto/Montreal – Unifor members at Bell (BCE.TO) and its subsidiaries are organizing to protest multi-million executive bonuses at the company’s upcoming AGM.
“Bell can expect our union to be vocal when the executives continue to cut good jobs while rewarding themselves with fat bonuses,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We are asking shareholders to examine the facts: more layoffs, a stunning drop in profits, and lucrative executive bonuses and we are asking they push back and demand better from the company’s C-suite and board of directors.”
Unifor National President Lana Payne and Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi updated members in Ontario on the union’s ongoing efforts to combat tariffs at Unifor’s Ontario Town Hall meeting on April 17.
Unifor members from across Ontario are leading a strong, grassroots, volunteer-led campaign to inform voters about what’s at stake for workers this election.
TORONTO—Unifor is calling out Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) for unilaterally slashing workers’ commission pay during its retail liquidation—a move that violates collective agreements and reduces workers’ income as they prepare for mass termination.
The sudden and unprovoked Trump initiated trade war between the United States and Canada as well as the inflammatory comments made about Canada’s sovereignty have shocked Canadian aerospace workers.
Toronto, Quebec City – April 16, 2025 – The Canadian Association of Stand-up, Sketch & Improv Comedians (CASC) is proud to announce a strategic partnership with the Canadian Freelance Union-Unifor (CFU) to advance the rights and benefits of Canadian comedians nationwide.
Unifor members in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia joined the union’s virtual town hall to hear National President Lana Payne and Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray speak to tariffs impacting Canadian workers and the ongoing economic warfare and initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
National President Lana Payne stressed that we are in a pivotal moment that demands our collective engagement.
TORONTO—Nearly 100 newly unionized food service workers at Oakham House have ratified their first collective agreement as members of Unifor Local 591-G, securing major improvements to wages, benefits, and working conditions.
“Forming a union was a brave choice for Oakham House workers and it is paying off with a strong first collective agreement,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We’re thrilled with what the bargaining committee at Local 591-G was able to accomplish.”
ST. JOHN’S—More than 120 Unifor members gathered in St. John’s this week to coordinate strategies and adopt proposals ahead of upcoming national energy and chemicals sector negotiations.
The three-day gathering brought together local union leadership and bargaining committee members from across the country, united under the National Energy and Chemicals Bargaining Program. Participants officially adopted bargaining proposals that had been developed by locals and reviewed by the program’s advisory committee.
Striking Transdev workers rallied outside BC Transit’s headquarters in Victoria on April 15 to send a strong message to the employer: access to washrooms (and reasonable break times to use them) is a fundamental human right.
Unifor members from Locals 114 and 333-BC went on strike on February 8 after Transdev refused to address providing dedicated washroom access to its bus drivers. Transit members, their locals, Unifor leadership and supporters attended the rally.
TORONTO – While Unifor is encouraged that Honda Canada has confirmed its facility in Alliston, Ontario, will operate at full capacity for the foreseeable future with no changes being considered at this time the union cautions vigilance amid the ongoing threat to Canadian auto jobs posed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
INGERSOLL—The news of General Motors' decision to temporarily halt and then reduce production of the BrightDrop electric delivery van at CAMI Assembly Plant is devastating for Unifor members, their families, and the entire Ingersoll community.
ESPANOLA, Ont.—Unifor is repeating its call for all three levels of government to urgently develop an industrial plan for the forestry sector following the proposed sale of Domtar’s long-curtailed Espanola pulp and paper mill.
VICTORIA — Transdev transit workers in Cowichan Valley have been on strike for over eight weeks – since February 8 – fighting for access to bathrooms that are not shared by the public and reasonable break times to use them.
“Sanitation and access to restrooms are a basic human right,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“Our members’ strike is about basic working conditions, which are critical to deliver the public transit services they provide to the community of Cowichan.”
More than 100 delegates from across Canada gathered at Unifor’s Retail, Wholesale, and Food Sector Conference to reflect on victories, from massive wage gains, to organizing success in warehouses and food processing, and look ahead to the next big battles: tariffs and defending Canadian jobs.
TORONTO—Canadian counter-tariffs of 25% on vehicles imported from U.S., which came into effect today, are a necessary retaliation says Unifor.
“There is absolutely no justification for the United States to impose tariffs on Canadian vehicles. Canada did not start this trade war, but we have no choice but to fight. We refuse to back down and sacrifice Canada’s auto jobs and industry on Donald Trump’s altar,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
April 10, 2025, is Equal Pay Day in Canada, highlighting how far into the year women must work to earn what men did the year before, on average.
That’s more than three months of extra work for the same pay. And for many women, especially Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, immigrant women, and women with disabilities, that gap is even wider.
There are various methods to measure the wage gap, but regardless of how it's measured, the gap remains. Our fight for equal pay is about fairness, dignity, and respect for the work women do every single day.
Members of Unifor Local 823 Mine & Office Unit at Windsor Salt in Pugwash, N.S., ratified a four-year collective agreement that sees strong improvements to wages and benefits.
“I congratulate the bargaining committee and Local 823 members at Windsor Salt who used their collective power to improve their working conditions,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “As we collectively focus on buying Canadian goods, we can celebrate in knowing Windsor Salt products are sourced and prepared here at home by Unifor members.”
Mobilizing Unifor Members in Retail, Wholesale, Warehousing and Food, Dairy and Beverage Processing
Unifor national, local union and workplace leadership in the retail, wholesale, warehousing and food, dairy and beverage processing industries came together on April 4-6 to celebrate the union’s bargaining and organizing successes and advances to workers’ rights, while discussing the pressing economic and political challenges facing these industries now and into the future.
TORONTO—Unifor is calling for a large-scale Team Canada approach to support the forestry sector across Canada after the U.S. Department of Commerce’s recent announcement that will more than double the combined duties on Canadian softwood lumber.
Unifor members at Blue Water Rest Home in Zurich, Ontario have ratified a new two-year collective agreement.
“This agreement is a testament to the strength and determination of our long-term care members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “They do critical work in challenging conditions and they deserve contracts that reflect that value.”
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