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Unifor warns of possible disruptions for Reliance Comfort customers

TORONTO—A refusal by the owners of Reliance Home Comfort to make meaningful proposals at the bargaining table could force job action this week at the Ontario-based HVAC, plumbing, and electrical provider, says Unifor.

“Unifor members serve Reliance customers with pride, but without movement on key issues from the employer this week, customer service will grind to a halt if we’re on a picket line,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Voices from the Picket Line: Case Study 1: Co-op Refinery & Unifor Local 594

In December 2019, Unifor Local 594 members working at the Co-op Refinery in Regina, SK were locked out by their employer, in a dispute that would ultimately last for 201 days. The members’ defined benefits pension plan was the main area of disagreement at the bargaining table, with the employer demanding deep concessions but unwilling to put an offer to the membership until the months into the lockout.

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Brian Pallister continues to underachieve on paid sick leave

WINNIPEG—A new provincial so-called sick leave program strictly limited to COVID-19 is woefully inadequate, says Unifor.

“Brian Pallister doesn’t get it. Manitobans don’t need the absolute bare minimum, they need robust public health policies that keep them and their families safe,” said Jerry Dias Unifor National President. “Brian Pallister has failed Manitobans yet again.”

Greene Report ‘reset’ will hurt workers and impede economic recovery

May 6, 2021

ST. JOHN’S —The slash-and-burn reset’ recommendations in the Greene Report would hurt Newfoundland and Labrador workers, cut vital social services and impede a post-pandemic economic recovery if implemented. 

“Greene’s Big Reset is a Big Failure, lacking imagination or a vision for the future that includes good jobs and strong public services,” said Unifor Regional Director Linda MacNeil. “A framework that starts with balancing the budget and ends with privatization is not a reset, it’s a step backwards.”

Unifor thanks nurses for always answering the call

Unifor recognises the dedication and achievements of nurses who contribute to excellence in health care and raise awareness of the issues and challenges of health care workers.

People in Canada and around the world celebrate Nursing Week each year during the week of Florence Nightingale's birthday, May 12. The Canadian theme of Nursing Week 2021 is, "We answer the call."

Conservatives fundraise on YouTube lies

It seems Erin O’Toole’s Conservatives just can’t pass up any opportunity to feed the party’s right-wing base and do some fundraising.

The Conservatives are standing in front of microphones and e-mailing supporters spinning a myth that the CRTC is going to police the YouTube and Facebook video uploads of everyday citizens.

If Bill C-10 – legislation updating the long-standing Canadian content obligations of commercial broadcasters for the modern era of Internet streaming - gets caught in this political crossfire, O’Toole doesn’t mind.

Jerry Dias - Open Letter Re: Urgent Need to Order Transit Vehicles from Alstom Thunder Bay

May 5, 2021

SENT VIA EMAIL

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Deputy Prime Minister of Canada
The Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P., Minister of Health, MP for Thunder Bay – Superior North
The Honourable Doug Ford, M.P.P., Premier of Ontario
The Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy, M.P.P., Ontario Minister of Finance
The Honourable Victor Fedeli, M.P.P., Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

Ocean Concrete locks out workers to force concessions

VICTORIA—Members of Unifor Local 114 working at Ocean Concrete in Victoria have been locked out of their workplace by an employer seeking concessions at the bargaining table, Unifor says.

“Shame on Ocean Concrete for locking out workers during a pandemic,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Ocean Concrete has no excuse for these aggressive tactics.”  

National Update #3

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

With the third wave of Covid shutting down meetings and preventing any national bargaining from occurring, we have agreed to a one year agreement with the employer, subject to ratification by the membership. 

May Day marked with workers’ stories

To mark May Day stories from across North America about workers who have found renewed reason for activism in 14 months of COVID-19 challenges.

Nestlé workers on strike in Toronto

May 1, 2021
TORONTO – More than 470 workers went on strike at a Nestlé Canada manufacturing plant in Toronto at midnight Saturday after contract negotiations between Unifor Local 252 and the chocolate company broke down.
"It’s a sad state of affairs," said Eamonn Clarke, President of Unifor Local 252. "We’ve opened the door to precarious work and the company has taken advantage of it, using it to line their own pockets, make more profits and they don’t want to share anything with the workers."

Unifor calls Loblaw ‘appreciation bonus’ an insult to frontline workers

April 30, 2021

Toronto - The announcement of a chump change employee ‘appreciation bonus’ by Loblaw Companies Limited is an insult to workers says Unifor, especially given its departing President took home more than $6 million dollars last year.

“The unmitigated greed of Canada’s largest grocery retailer knows no limits,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “This paltry payment to frontline grocery workers, who are keeping us fed throughout this pandemic, is nothing short of a disgrace.”

Don’t repeat past childcare mistakes

We have a national childcare plan at long last, and we cannot afford to lose it to political games in Ottawa.

It’s just too important.

It has been more than 16 years since the previous Liberal government tried to bring in a national childcare program, only to see Stephen Harpers Conservatives kill it after Jack Layton helped them defeat the Paul Martin government