More than 500 Unifor local union leadership came together on September 27 to get an update on Unifor’s statement on Comprehensive Workplace Immunization Programs and Mandatory Vaccinations and advice on what tools and resources locals can use to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“To be clear, vaccine mandates are but one tool that must be implemented to keep everyone safe and finally end this pandemic,” explained Unifor’s Secretary-Treasurer Lana Payne during the session.
Fiscal conservatives always claim that the necessity of balancing the government’s budget is a matter of ‘hard mathematics’. A government only takes in so much revenue. Basic arithmetic implies that’s all it can spend – at least in the long run. Cue the requisite analogy to household finances, and the image of prudent pilgrims sitting at their kitchen tables, trying to balance their own budgets. “Ma and Pa know they can only spend as much as they take in; it’s time governments learned the same thing.”
We shouldn’t have to fundraise but we do. Every year my son and I partner with Halton Women’s Place for a fundraising event that raises huge amounts of money they would be devastated without.
Over the years, our efforts in the Hope in High Heels walk – in which we literally walk a mile in women’s shoes, bright pink high-heeled shoes, including this past weekend – has raised $1-million for Halton Women’s Place.
I also sit on the board of Halton Women’s Place, and am incredibly proud of the work done at the shelter and others like it.
TORONTO–Today, Halton Women’s Place recognized Unifor National President Jerry Dias as he reached the milestone of $1 million in lifetime donations at the union’s ‘Hope in High Heels’ event in Toronto.
“When Jerry and the Unifor team walk every year, year after year, they’re showing women that they are not alone, they’re showing women that we are standing behind you,” said Laurie Hepburn, Executive Director of Halton Women’s Place.
TORONTO —Food Basics workers at grocery stores across Ontario are warning customers of a pre-Thanksgiving September 29 strike deadline.
“More than 85% of our Food Basics members are in part-time positions, making barely above the minimum wage with no paid sick days,” said Gord Currie, President of Unifor Local 414. “Despite the fact that these workers remained on the frontline throughout the pandemic, now Food Basics wants to eliminate the highest paid full-time jobs in these stores and offer the rest substandard wages.”
Speaking at Unifor Media Council Wednesday, National President Jerry Dias committed the union to picking up the fight for a stable media sector in the wake of this week’s federal election.
“I have already been on the phone with the PMO,” Dias told the online gathering. “We are going to continue to fight for the future of your industry.”
TORONTO–Unifor National President Jerry Dias will surpass $1 million in total donations raised for the Halton Women’s Place, at the union’s ‘Hope in High Heels’ fundraiser event Saturday, September 25, 2021.
When Canadians were surprised with a summer election call, Unifor members sprung into action to ensure that workers were informed, engaged, and ready to vote on September 20.
It’s clear voters weren’t buying the empty promises Erin O'Toole was selling in this election. So we have scrapped the failed "2021 O’Toole" truck, and sent it to the junk yard where it belongs, along with its' namesake’s outdated conservative ideology.
OTTAWA- Unifor is calling on the Liberal and NDP leaders to work together to implement progressive change to benefit workers.
“In this election Canadians didn’t endorse any one party, instead opting for MPs to continue to work together in a minority parliament.” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “I’m asking Justin Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh to cut through the politics and agree on mutual priorities so government can act quickly to strengthen our economy and the services that Canadians depend upon.”
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister Trudeau,
Let me begin by offering my sincere congratulations on your reelection as Prime Minster of Canada. I look forward to continuing to work with your government to improve the lives of working people throughout this great nation.
With the election campaign in the rear view mirror, it is time to focus on the road towards a fair and equitable recovery from the pandemic.
In order to make change with racial justice, you need not only one voice – but many, from all walks of life.
Unifor, committed to uniting, learning and supporting each other to build a truly anti-racist labour movement and world, has been actively finding solutions on how to make that a reality.
Unifor Locals 240 and 1256 members reached a tentative agreement with Ford Motor Company of Canada covering plant protection officers including security and emergency response workers at the Windsor Engine Plant Annex and Oakville Assembly Complex.
“I’m proud of our bargaining committees for continuing to make solid gains for our members in the auto sector during these challenging times,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “I would like to congratulate everyone involved for delivering on the key priorities identified by of our members.”
Jerry Dias is the national president of Unifor, the largest private-sector union in Canada. Brian Kingston is the president and CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association.
As Canadians prepare to head to the polls in September, one important issue they will be weighing is the future of Canada’s economy.
EDMONTON—The success of other provincial governments in lowering COVID-19 hospitalizations with vaccination policies means that Albertans face a more serious threat: Premier Jason Kenney.
Dozens of Unifor members participated in the webinar “Indian Residential Schools - Effects & Impacts” on September 14, 2021, the tenth in Unifor’s Turtle Island Series.
“Kill the Indian in the Child,” was the goal of the schools said respected Indigenous leader Eva Wilson-Fontaine, who led the discussion along with emcee Gina Smoke, Unifor’s Indigenous Liaison. The 90-minute event provided an unvarnished review of the goals and practices of Canada’s state-sponsored residential school system and the lasting impacts on Indigenous communities today.
Unifor retirees from across the country participated in the first virtual Retired Workers Council, which took place online September 7-9, 2021.
“Retirees have learned a new way of doing activism, as we have learned a new way to deliver workshops, programs and in fact this Council,” said Barb Dolan, Unifor Director of Retired Workers, as she welcomed the delegates. “We’re moving forward and doing the business that we need to do of our union and of the retired workers.”
Unifor members from across Ontario were back in the classroom this week participating in our Paid Education Leave PEL) program at the union’s Family Education Centre in Port Elgin Ontario.
This marks the first time that Unifor members have gathered in-person for an event since the beginning of the pandemic, when the facility was closed in March of 2020.
Major advances in overtime fairness are one of the highlights of a new three-year contract signed on September 10, 2021 by Local 914.
New contract language will make the allocation of overtime fairer and the threshold for qualifying for overtime pay will be lowered significantly, from 60 hours per week to 45.
“The new contract for Unifor members at Clean Harbour Transport will put money in their pockets and settle outstanding issues with shift differentials,” said Tom Rinker, president of Unifor Local 914.
We’ve all noticed when calling our provider for Internet or telephone service support: for many years now, almost all support calls for Canada’s big telecom companies are transferred overseas.
What does it mean to love Newfoundland and Labrador’s oil workers in a time of climate crisis and global energy transformations? The answer: supporting a just transition.
This is a “code red” moment for humanity as the consequences of the climate crisis unfold around the world and here at home. If nothing is done, people will suffer in myriad ways, including the careers of oil and gas workers.
Unifor Local 4003 has reached a tentative agreement with Toronto Terminals Railway following weeks of negotiations that opened up on July 28th.
“We want to thank the members for their support during bargaining and we are looking forward to presenting the details to members at upcoming ratification meetings,” said Jeff Ongena, Local 4003 TTR Chairperson
If ratified, the agreement reached on Sept. 9 2021 will give members a wage increase of 12.5 per cent throughout the life of the contract, which expires in 2025.
Honourable Harry Bains
Minister of Labour
West Annex Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4 @email
RE: Paid Sick Leave
Dear Minister Bains,
I'm writing as a follow up to our many conversations about paid sick leave, including the broad-based lobbying effort undertaken by Unifor members this spring.
Unifor is hosting seven online forums beginning next week that will shine a spotlight on racial justice in the workplace over the next month.
The sessions – kicking off Sept. 16, 2021 in the Atlantic region – will bring together union leadership, activists, employers and community organizations to brainstorm new ideas, tools, strategies and policies for racial justice, whether in union locals, workplaces and communities.
As an extension to the NEB Statement on Vaccine Certificates adopted in August 2021 and Considerations to Guide the Re-Opening of Canada’s Economy adopted in May 2021, the NEB makes the following statement:
PICTON —Revera plans to cut long-term care jobs at Hallowell House in Picton, Ontario during the fourth wave of COVID-19.
"Clearly Revera has learned nothing during this pandemic," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. "Revera is determined to maintain skeleton staff levels to care for residents as it continues its profit over people business model."
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