This column was originally published in the Toronto Star
For gig firms, the walls are closing in.
No one – not governments, not Uber, and certainly not any labour unions – believes that the gig economy can continue to operate in a regulatory vacuum. European governments are taking action.
Platform companies know that. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has even said it is practicable.
TORONTO — Unifor representatives and frontline Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) met with Ontario Minister of Health Christine Elliott on February 7, 2022 to discuss systemic issues and offer concrete solutions to retain and recruit health care workers in Ontario.
“This bill alone won’t solve all the challenges VIA Rail is facing,” said Scott Doherty, Unifor’s lead rail negotiator and Executive Assistant to the Unifor National President. “However it’s a long overdue step in the right direction and establishes a foundation and necessary building blocks that we can use to improve public passenger rail service in Canada.”
TORONTO – Unifor leadership and front-line Registered Practical Nurses (RPN’s) and will meet virtually with Ontario Minister of Health Christine Elliott to discuss issues faced by frontline health care members and present solutions to the ongoing crisis in Ontario's health care system.
TORONTO – Unifor is critical of today’s announcement by the provincial government that claims to combat hate by funding security and clean up instead of prevention and systemic change.
Workers at a Mexican General Motors plant voted this week to join a union of their own choosing, rejecting three company-linked unions that were also on the ballot.
“This is a tremendous victory for the workers at this plant, and for all workers in Mexico,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias said.
“All workers have the right to join a union of their own choosing, and to have a voice in their workplace.”
This Thursday, February 3, Unifor is hosting a Day of Action for Child Care in Ontario. We are asking everyone across this province to participate.
Urgent action needed now
Ontario is the only jurisdiction in Canada that has not signed the federal child care deal promising $10-a-day child care, more child care spaces, and better pay for child care workers. If Premier Ford doesn’t sign before the end of March, we stand to lose out on $1.2 billion – yes, BILLION – in funding.
On Monday, January 31, Unifor members gathered virtually with Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi and Women’s Director Tracey Ramsey to organize a Day of Action for Child Care in Ontario.
For Unifor, Black History Month isn’t an event we only acknowledge in February.
This year, Canada recognizes Black History Month as February and Forever: Celebrating Black History Today and Every Day.
The Canadian government first recognized Black History Month in December 1995 in the House of Commons, following a motion introduced by the Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine.
Unifor has long been advocating that it is vital to acknowledge and recognize Black members everyday.
Canada needs to get back on track and invest in the future of its rail system.
The federal government needs to step up and pour some significant dollars into VIA Rail, Canada’s national rail passenger service, if it wants to build back better, following the lead of our American counterparts.
Unifor Local 414 members at Canteen of Canada (Compass Group) ratified a new collective agreement that boosts wages, improves job security, and introduces a new Racial Justice Advocate position.
“In these increasingly difficult and uncertain times, we were focused on providing a more certain future for our members,” said Tony Falcone, Unifor Local 414 Vice President. “Thanks to our dedicated bargaining team, we delivered an agreement that strengthens union members’ job security provisions and clearly spells out work ownership.”
Your bargaining committee met two days this week with the Employer - Nova Scotia Health and IWK. After two long days, there are still a number of outstanding issues and progress has been slow. This completes six days of bargaining, which began in late December. This round of bargaining has been very challenging as we are unable to meet in person and must do so virtually.
WHISTLER—Strike action will begin at 5 a.m. on Saturday, January 29 as B.C. Transit’s contractors refuse to close the pay gap for Whistler-area transit operators, says Unifor.
“We are prepared to negotiate but we cannot say the same for B.C. Transit’s contractors in Whistler, Squamish, and Pemberton,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Without a fair offer to vote on, our member will take strike action.”
Unifor Local 444 members at Cottam Diecasting in Tecumseh, Ontario ratified a strong first contract after negotiations opened with the employer on Jan. 10, 2022.
“I want to thank the workers at Cottam Diecasting for believing in their worth,” said Dave Cassidy, Unifor Local 444 President. “This is a first contract that delivers on each of the issues that led workers to join the union. We can all be proud of laying a solid foundation we can build on for our future.”
WHITBY– Sobeys warehouse workers have negotiated massive wage increases, improved pensions and wage parity for part-time workers in a new four-year collective agreement.
The Honourable Paul Calandra, M.P.P.
Minister of Long-Term Care @email
Dear Minister Calandra,
I would like to congratulate you on your recent appointment as Minister of Long-Term Care. We appreciate that you have reached out to our union. The 15,000 members we represent in this sector have ultimately worked through a humanitarian crisis, one that still exists right across the province.
Unifor will be in Mexico for a union vote at a General Motors plant in Silao, Mexico next week, where four unions will be on the ballot for workers to choose from.
“We have great concerns about the fairness of this vote,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “Workers at this plant have clearly rejected the company union in the past and demanded clear and free elections to choose their own union. What they are getting, instead, is a muddied ballot that makes a clear outcome difficult to achieve.”
Unifor welcomes the appointment of the union's Director of Skilled Trades, John Breslin, to the new Board of Skilled Trades Ontario to help ensure the voice of skilled trades workers across the province is heard.
To Unifor local union leadership and staff in the federally regulated private sector,
Greetings,
Most of you will have heard by now that the federal government passed Bill C-3 late last year, which provides 10 paid days of sick leave per year for workers in the federal sector. Workers will accumulate sick days at the rate of one day per month up to the maximum each year.
Unifor has submitted the union’s recommendations to Environment and Climate Change Canada, as part of the federal government’s consultation process on potential interim measures to help meet its stated target of 100% Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) light duty car sales in Canada by 2035.
Despite the daily struggles, Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) face fighting the pandemic, RPNs across Ontario have come together to take action against Ontario’s Bill 124 that caps total compensation at 1% and to highlight the wage disparity that has resulted from a decade of below inflation wage increases.
Unifor members of Local 1044 and 4005 working at Cummins locations in Pointe-Claire, Quebec City and Dartmouth, ratified a new tentative agreement at simultaneous virtual meetings held on Jan. 16.
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