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Refinery workers reach tentative agreement with Co-op

The bargaining committee of Unifor Local 594 has reached a tentative agreement with the employer at the Co-op Refinery, 197 days after Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) locked out 730 workers.

W Hotel Toronto delay will not affect unionized jobs

This week’s announcement that Marriott International will delay plans to complete renovations and re-open its Yorkville location as a W Hotel citing the COVID-19 pandemic will not affect unionized jobs, Unifor has ascertained.

Grocers wrong to cut pandemic pay

Unifor opposes the decision by Canada’s leading grocery chains to end pandemic pay for their workers at retail outlets across Canada.

Grocers need to explain pandemic pay cuts

Unifor stands in support of requiring the heads of Canada’s largest grocery chains to testify before a House of Commons committee about why they are all cutting pandemic pay on the same day.

Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith put forward a motion at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry to summon major grocery executives to explain why they are cutting their workers’ pay. The motion will be voted on Thursday.

Investigation into the Oversight of Long-Term Care Homes

June 7,2020

Sent by email: @email

Paul Dubé
Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario
483 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M5G2C9

 

Dear Ombudsman Dubé,

Unifor welcomes your decision to investigate the Ministry of Long-Term Care and the Ministry of Health on their oversight of long-term care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Open Letter: To Sarah Davis, President of Loblaw Companies Limited, on removal of pandemic pay for frontline workers

Dear Ms. Davis,

I am writing to share my concerns about your memo to Loblaw employees, including thousands of Unifor members, on June 12.

Let me begin by saying that I am astounded by your expression of shock, dismay and disappointment regarding the negative attention Loblaw received in recent days, after ending its essential pay premium program for employees.

 

Employers coalition seeks to dodge responsibilities to infected workers

VANCOUVER—Unifor is calling on the provincial government to resist calls from employers to water down proposed changes to workers’ compensation that would see employers help to cover the costs associated with saving the lives of workers who contracted COVID-19 at work.

“These are the same forces that resisted responsibility for lung cancer and asbestos poisoning,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “COVID-19 is the latest in a long line of occupational diseases that employers wish to pretend has nothing to do with the workplace.”

Quinte West’s 140-year forestry legacy ends today

Workers at the Sonoco paper mill in Quinte West are spending their last day on the job today after the company decided earlier this year to shutter the mill and focus operations in South Carolina.

Closure of Mackenzie mill threatens entire community

VANCOUVER— Unifor is warning of dire consequences for Mackenzie, B.C., as the Paper Excellence mill in the forestry town goes into indefinite curtailment. “The federal and provincial governments have failed forestry workers in Mackenzie and all across B.C.,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “This shutdown comes after a lengthy battle from both the workers and the owner to address fibre access issues and develop a sustainable plan for the province’s forestry sector.

Court rejects Pallister’s attempt to limit collective bargaining

WINNIPEG—A Manitoba court has ruled that the so-called Public Services Sustainability Act violates the right to collective bargaining protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“Free and fair collective bargaining is a right that workers have fought for,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “That right is a threat to the conservative forces that seek to undermine public services. Today’s court victory is a victory for both workers and the Manitobans that rely on our excellent social programs.”

Loblaws wrong to cut pandemic pay

TORONTO – Unifor opposes the decision by Loblaw Companies Ltd. to end pandemic pay for workers at its retail outlets across Canada.

“The pandemic is not over. The danger has not passed. These workers are no less at risk and are no less essential today than they were yesterday. There is no justification for ending pandemic pay now, or ever,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias said.

Novotel workers join Unifor

After years of hard work, 70 workers at the Novotel Hotel in North York have voted overwhelmingly to join Unifor.

Bulletin #4

Sisters/brothers/colleagues,

Bargaining with Bell resumes virtually on June 16 and 17

Your bargaining committee is returning to the negotiating “table” using technology and web meetings after a three-month delay because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consultation on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

Introduction

Unifor is Canada’s largest private sector union, with 315,000 members working in a diverse range of workplaces across the country. Our members work in every major sector of the Canadian economy, including retail, health and long-term care, passenger transit, food and beverage processing, and many other sectors that have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Restarting the Economy: What food and beverage transport need to know

Food and beverage processing workers across Canada have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 1,400 confirmed COVID-19 cases thus far. Meat processing plants have been hit particularly hard, with a number of outbreaks occurring in Alberta and Quebec that have led to numerous deaths. Governments must use the reopening of the economy as an opportunity to ensure that food and beverage processing plants are safe and that workers are protected from COVID-19 through rigorous health and safety protocols.