All News

Unifor members ratify new contract with Sheraton Guildford Hotel

May 28, 2018

SURREY—Striking Unifor Local 3000 members at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel have voted 92 per cent in favour of a new three-year collective agreement, ending the four-week strike.

“Unifor is a strong union for hotel workers,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “I’m proud of Local 3000 members who fought to get what they’ve earned from this employer.”

Unifor lobbies nationally for action on public services

May 24, 2018

OTTAWA – Unifor members from across Canada are on Parliament Hill to lobby MPs for an expansion of public services, including national child care and pharmacare programs, and action on climate change.

Acute care workers ratify mediation-arbitration agreement

The bargaining committee for Unifor is pleased to announce that members have voted to 92 per cent to ratify an agreement with NSHA and IWK to go to mediation and binding arbitration.

“Thanks to the support, solidarity and patience of members we can now see a light at the end of an extremely difficult round of negotiations, made more challenging by numerous pieces of government legislation,” said said Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director.

Strike averted, tentative deal reached at Windsor Star

May 4, 2018

WINDSOR – A tentative deal has been reached with Postmedia just hours before a strike deadline at the Windsor Star.

“We are relieved to have reached a tentative agreement that we can recommend to our members who have been serving this community by providing high-quality daily local news for decades,” said Julie Kotsis, Chair of the Joint Council of Unions, which represents members of Unifor Locals 240 and 517-G, as well as Communications Workers of America-Canada Local 30553.

B.C. NDP government makes progress on trucking commitments

May 4, 2018

VANCOUVER—The wage increases and enhanced resources for reliable enforcement measures announced today by the Government of British Columbia will help container truckers earn a decent living and move closer towards peace at Vancouver’s ports, says Unifor.

“Unifor worked hard to negotiate a plan that all sides agreed to,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Unlike its predecessors, this government is moving to faithfully implement the signed plan.”

Windsor news coverage threatened as newspaper strike looms

May 3, 2018

WINDSOR - Daily local news coverage in Windsor is under threat as owners of the Windsor Star seek massive concessions, while a midnight Friday strike deadline looms.

“Our newsroom has shrunk by more than 25 per cent as Postmedia seeks multi-year wage freezes while executive compensation climbed on average 33 per cent last year,” said Julie Kotsis, Chair of the Joint Council of Unions, which is bargaining for members of Unifor Locals 240 and 517-G, as well as Communications Workers of America-Canada Local 30553.

Letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on World Press Freedom Day

World Press Freedom Day takes place every year on May 3rd. It is a great moment to take stock of press freedom around the world, including in Canada. This year is particularly important as it marks the 25th edition of World Press Freedom Day, which was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993.

Sheraton Guildford Hotel workers on strike

May 1, 2018

SURREY—Workers at one of Surrey’s largest hotels have walked off the job after the employer refused to bargain with the union.

“It is a total lack of respect for the workers who make that hotel a success,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Hospitality workers deserve good working conditions and fair compensation.”

Job action began at 4:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 1 after the Collective Agreement expired.

Council of Unions Recommend Proposed Agreement with NSHA and IWK

The Council of Health Care Unions is recommending its members ratify a proposed agreement with the Nova Scotia Health Authority and IWK.

Yesterday, all bargaining committee members met and voted to recommend ratification of the proposal to its members.

If ratified the agreement provides a mediation arbitration process that will conclude collective agreements for all four bargaining committees in Health Care, Nursing, Support Services, and Administrative Professionals.

Council of Health Care Unions get Strike Mandate

The Nova Scotia Council of Health Care Unions has received the results of the recent province wide strike vote

The health care bargaining unit members who voted - voted 93% in support of a strike,

The unions would like to thank all the members who participated in the vote, and showed solidarity with their bargaining committee.

But this does not mean there is going to be a strike. In a message earlier today, members were informed of a proposal on the table from the Employers, that if ratified, would avoid any job action.

Compass Minerals mine workers on strike

April 27, 2018

GODERICH—The employer’s demand for concessions have forced mine workers at the Compass Minerals’ facility in Goderich to take legal job action.

“Our members are pivotal to the success of the Goderich mine,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Miners deserve a fair deal, not dramatic concessions.”

Unifor Lear Ajax members on strike

April 28, 2018 AJAX – Unifor members at Lear Ajax began strike action as of 12:01 a.m. April 28 after negotiations to secure a new collective agreement failed. “Unifor bargained up until the deadline but unfortunately it became clear that Lear was just unwilling to make a fair offer,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. The 320 workers, represented by Unifor Local 222, had delivered an overwhelming 99 per cent strike mandate earlier this week.

Unifor serves strike notice at Sheraton Guilford

April 27, 2018

SURREY— The employer’s refusal to respond to the union’s proposals has forced Unifor Local 3000 to serve 84-hour strike notice at one of Surrey’s largest hotels.

“Reckless bargaining by the employer is going to result in a disruption in customer service,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We’re prepared to bargain but the Sheraton hasn’t demonstrated the same commitment to getting a contract.”

Compass Minerals mine workers on strike

The employer’s demand for concessions have forced mine workers at the Compass Minerals’ facility in Goderich to take legal job action.

“Our members are pivotal to the success of the Goderich mine,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Miners deserve a fair deal, not dramatic concessions.” 

Submission on Bill 107 from Lana Payne

Please accept this submission on Bill 107, amending the Labour Standards Code, Respecting Leaves of Absence.

Unifor represents 315,000 members across Canada, 14,000 of which work and live in Nova Scotia. As the Atlantic Regional Director, I connect with members in various sectors of the economy, working for employers large and small. I've supported the work that my union has done to negotiate programs and policies dealing with domestic and intimate partner violence. I am proud to say that we are a leader in workplace supports.

Unifor welcomes news that airport privatization stalled

April 23, 2018

TORONTO—Unifor joins several stakeholders, including most Canadian airport authorities, in celebrating news that the federal government’s controversial study of airport privatization has been shelved.

“Privatization is a scam that threatens the security and service at Canadian airports,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Airports are too important to be left to privatization experiments with the private sector.”

Unifor available to comment on auto personal emergency leave review

April 21, 2018 TORONTO – Unifor National President Jerry Dias is available to comment on the government review of personal emergency leave for auto workers. The review comes after Ontario Labour Minister Kevin Flynn met with a Unifor led delegation of unionized and non-unionized auto workers. “We had a frank discussion on how regulation 502/06 creates a lesser standard of personal emergency leave for auto sector workers. It is unfair and is hurting workers and their families,” said Dias.

B.C. forestry roundtable calls on Trudeau to act

April 19, 2018

VICTORIA—A forestry roundtable convened to deal with the crisis caused by U.S. tariffs on five Canadian paper mills has resolved to protect affected communities and recruit the federal government to fight back.

“President Trump’s tariffs on paper mills are grossly unfair and may cause several mill closures,” said Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to the Unifor National President, who was at the meeting. “The federal government needs to act now to protect forestry communities and good Canadian jobs."