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Healthcare workers launch International Women’s Day actions with message to premier Ford: “respect us. protect us. pay us.”

Unions representing 175,000 workers serving on the frontlines of this pandemic demand the Ford government support this female majority workforce TORONTO, ON – Today, SEIU Healthcare, Unifor, and CUPE, unions representing 175,000 healthcare workers across Ontario, held a virtual media conference to announce the launch of International Women’s Day actions with a clear message to Premier Ford: “Respect Us. Protect Us.

Pandemic may set women back, but the struggle moves forward

This column originally appeared in the Globe and Mail

The pandemic has demolished many conventional wisdoms when it comes to our economy, equality and work – especially essential work, so much of which is done by women.

Where would we be without the labour of women this past year? And yet as critical as that labour has been to the well-being of the country, we are still fighting for respect and fair pay.

CUPE, Unifor and SEIU Healthcare media conference to launch ‘Respect Us. Protect Us. Pay Us.’ campaign for Ontario health care workers

TORONTO- SEIU Healthcare, CUPE, and Unifor to announce ‘Respect Us. Protect Us. Pay Us.’ campaign on behalf of the unions’ 175,000 combined health care members across Ontario.

Following the overstress of health care resources and failure of Ontario’s long-term care system during the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers are uniting to demand action from the Ford government. 

The Assignment of “New Jobs”

Bell Craft Bargaining History, Issue 4 of 8.

The telecommunications industry is ever changing. At the same time as technology evolved at a rapid pace and internet and telecommunications technologies are integrated into every aspect of worker’s lives in Canada, craft workers have seen so-called ‘old jobs’ disappear from our bargaining unit.

If industry evolution creates new opportunities, so we must ask- where are all these ‘new jobs’ going?

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is a global day to celebrate women and women’s achievements and to continue the push for gender justice.

The Continued Offshoring of Good Jobs

Bell Craft Bargaining History, Issue 3 of 8.

There is no secret that Bell Canada has used offshore call centers for many years. Most people think of incoming customer calls for service or installation orders, but the work doesn’t stop there.

Bell employs an estimated 7,00-10,000 offshore workers who do jobs that used to be done by Bell employees in Canada.

In addition to service and installation orders, offshore workers perform testing, trouble shooting, monitoring, and programming jobs that used to be done here, at home by Bell Craft Technicians.

The Proliferation of Contracting Out

Bell Craft Bargaining History, Issue 2 of 8.

The proliferation of contracting out began in small but noticeable ways, with jobs that were described as not “aligned with the core business” such as the digging of pits or pole replacement.

The company continues to chip away, bit by bit- with the formation of Expertech and what is now called BTS, to move away certain types of work. The formation of Progistix and Transervice saw the elimination of the auto mechanics and material handlers from the bargaining unit.

Hydro report denies Pallister the easy path to privatization

WINNIPEG—While full-scale privatization of Manitoba Hydro was not part of former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall’s new report, it does suggest incremental privatization, says Unifor.

“We can’t trust Brad Wall to advise anybody but Brad Wall,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “As premier he never acted in the best interests of working people. Nothing has changed.”

Information Bulletin #10

Sisters and Brothers,

The Bargaining Committee met on Tuesday via teleconference with the Local delegates from the various regions of our unit, Southwest, North/East, Quebec and the GTA. We spoke to them about how the Company’s concessionary demands would undermine our priorities on jobs as well as job security. Furthermore, they were advised the decision to file a notice of dispute was not simply made because our demands were ignored, but because the concessionary demands would eventually lead to the elimination of the bargaining unit.

Alberta budget falls short for working families

EDMONTON—For Albertan families struggling under a pandemic and a slumping economy, the budget cuts introduced today will only make matters worse, says Unifor.

“Jason Kenney doesn’t get it: Albertans don’t need an experiment in austerity. They need good jobs and high-quality public services to weather these challenging times,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Alberta activists meet for campaign update

Unifor members in Alberta met via video conference on Feb 24 to share workplace updates and strategize about the ongoing campaign for rights at work.

Program for 6,000 new PSWs, “tip of what’s needed, gravity of shortage requires Ontario double that number to tackle long-term care staffing crisis,” say health care unions

Long-term care staffing in Ontario remain far below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. The gravity of the staffing shortage requires a substantive and comprehensive recruitment, training and retention workforce strategy, say health care unions representing approximately 70,000 Personal Support Workers (PSWs).

Pink Shirt Day helps lift each other up

This year, as many in our society both young and old feel isolated and alone, it is more important than ever to stand united against bullying on Pink Shirt Day, February 24, 2021.

Unifor sets federal budget priorities to Build Back Better

Unifor is calling on the federal government to prioritize improvements to income security, pandemic supports, industrial strategy, critical infrastructure, and public services in the union’s federal budget recommendations, with the goal to #BuildBackBetter from COVID-19.

As pandemic rages, it’s time to fix EI for good

This past year, workers experienced unemployment on a scale never before seen in Canada. At its first wave peak in June 2020, some 2.7 million workers in this country had no job. The magnitude of these losses effectively paralyzed the Employment Insurance system, requiring alternative means of income support via the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

Information Bulletin #9

Sisters and Brothers,

This week we expected from the Employer a change of course in their positioning in regards to our main issues. However, the Employer clearly never intended to address our job security concerns and even tried to get concessions.  Faced with this impasse we have submitted a request for conciliation to the Employer.

Information meetings will be scheduled with your Delegates in order to review the situation and give them the necessary tools to be able to answer your questions.

Canadians need a strong media sector

This column originally appeared in the Toronto Star.

When Canadians need them most, media outlets are being forced to trim their budgets, and newsrooms, as the pandemic continues to hit the bottom line.

The pandemic, now almost a year long with many dark months still ahead, is both the cause of much of media’s immediate troubles, and one of the big reasons we need it.