WATERLOO — Unifor Local 4304 and the Region of Waterloo have reached a tentative agreement covering approximately 850 Grand River Transit workers, averting a strike that would have begun at 12:01 a.m. on May 1, 2026.
Mediated negotiations between Unifor and Marine Atlantic broke off on the second day after the employer failed to engage with the union’s proposals.
“It’s unacceptable that Marine Atlantic is refusing to engage in meaningful negotiations for a fair agreement that lets workers continue to serve the public,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Ignoring the bargaining committee’s proposals shows a lack of respect and raises serious doubts about reaching a deal unless the company changes course.”
OTTAWA – The federal government’s spring fiscal update includes a number of important advances including in the area of worker training but presents an overly-optimistic view of Canada’s economic health, as millions of workers face ongoing uncertainty amid U.S. trade tensions, public sector cost-cutting, affordability challenges and global political instability, says Unifor.
Lac-Mégantic – The back-to-back closures of Bestar and Meubles South Shore within a 24-hour period send a clear message: Quebec’s furniture manufacturing sector is in jeopardy. A total of 120 Unifor members are losing their jobs after Bestar announced it would close its Lac-Mégantic plant.
NAIRN CENTRE, ON—Unifor is calling for urgent, coordinated action from all levels of government following Interfor's announcement that it is indefinitely curtailing operations at its Nairn Centre sawmill.
"Every week brings another closure, another community in crisis," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "Workers in Nairn Centre are paying the price for a trade war they didn't start. Canada needs a real industrial strategy for forestry before we lose any more jobs."
WATERLOO—The Unifor Local 4304 Bargaining Committee will be working over the next four days to avert a strike as the contract expiry and strike deadline approaches.
SUSSEX, N.B.— Unifor is expressing solidarity with members impacted by Agropur Dairy Cooperative’s announcement that it will close its dairy cooperative in Sussex, N.B., affecting around 50 Unifor Local 506 members. Operations are expected to continue through to 2028.
TORONTO - Unifor National President Lana Payne will advocate for bold federal action to protect Canadian jobs, rebuild domestic capacity, and put workers at the centre of Canada’s industrial strategy as a member of the new federal Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations.
VICTORIA— Contract negotiations between Unifor Local 4276 and the Fairmont Empress Hotel have broken off, with no further bargaining dates scheduled.
"Fairmont Empress workers set the standard in BC's hotel sector, and they deserve a contract that reflects that," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "Our members are facing real pressure from the cost of living, and they've delivered a record strike vote. The company needs to respond with a fair offer."
VICTORIA—The employer’s insufficient offers on wages, mental health benefits, and protections for gratuity earners has forced Unifor Local 4276 members at the Fairmont Empress Hotel to vote to strike if a resolution cannot be negotiated this month.
“The Fairmont Empress is synonymous with great service provided by Unifor members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Local 4276 members have earned a fair contract and are prepared to stand up for what they deserve.”
HALIFAX- Unifor members at Parkland Truro, Parkland Cape Breton, and Martha’s Place Antigonish retirement homes in Nova Scotia will be in a legal strike position as of April 16, after a no board report was issued by the Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration on Tuesday.
“Workers have spoken clearly, they need a deal that reflects the value of their work and keeps pace with standards in long-term care,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Unifor stands firmly behind these members as they fight for the respect and compensation they deserve.”
TORONTO—As Canadian workers mark one year of economic disruption and job losses triggered by U.S. tariffs targeting Canada’s auto industry and other key sectors, Unifor is escalating the union’s clear demand to corporate and government decision-makers: “Sell Here. Build Here.”
“The last twelve months saw workers in trade exposed industries go through hell. We’ve witnessed job loss and workers left in limbo as Trump continues to hammer our economy,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
OTTAWA – Unifor leaders from across the country are in Ottawa this week, meeting with more than 75 MPs from all sitting parties to deliver the message to Protect Canadian Jobs.
“In the face of U.S. tariffs, everything is on the line for workers in Canada, and we need the federal government and all political parties to match the urgency of this moment,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We’re ready to deliver a message to protect Canadian jobs, our country’s industrial economy, and defend trade union rights.”
MISSISSAUGA — Unifor is sounding the alarm after Boart Longyear, a global mining services company with operations in Canada since the 1930s, told workers it will close its Mississauga manufacturing facility and move operations to China, eliminating 40 unionized jobs.
OTTAWA, ON, MARCH 13, 2026 - The Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council acknowledges that many of the government’s priorities and those identified by key partners, are reflected in Canada’s 2026 – 2030 Sustainable Jobs Action Plan tabled on February 23, 2026. The Council remains committed to consulting with Canadians and providing advice on the creation and protection of sustainable jobs, work we believe is needed now more than ever.
WINNIPEG – Unifor has won a major arbitration ruling ordering CN to reinvest in the Transcona Wheel Shop, compensate affected workers and return rail work to in-house production in Canada after violating the collective agreement.
HALIFAX—Unifor is demanding the Nova Scotia government reverse budget cuts recently announced that will reduce staffing at all 100 nursing homes in the province by 3% this year, followed by additional cuts of 3% in each of the next three years.
HALIFAX – Unifor urges the Crown to uphold all charges levied against Irving Shipbuilding under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, following the company’s guilty plea to the lesser charge of failure to create a safe work procedure or plan for snow removal.
WINNIPEG — Unifor welcomes the official opening of a new bus manufacturing facility in Winnipeg by NFI Group and its subsidiary New Flyer, marking an important step forward for Canadian manufacturing and the creation of good union jobs.
“This investment means more union jobs in Winnipeg and more Canadian-made buses on our roads,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “When we build here at home, we strengthen our communities, support families with good wages and benefits, and ensure Canada can build and maintain the transit vehicles commuters rely on.”
WINDSOR—As the lockout at Titan Tool surpassed 200 days, Unifor has strengthened its picket lines after the company was observed using scab labour at the Windsor facility.
BRAMPTON, Ont.—Today, Unifor welcomed the news that the Mayor of Brampton and the City Council moved and unanimously adopted a motion to protect the future of the Stellantis Brampton assembly plant that will explicitly designate the site for auto assembly production.
AMHERSTBURG, Ont. - Diageo has closed its Crown Royal whisky plant in Amherstburg, Ontario two days ahead of schedule, without advance warning to workers.
TORONTO- The U.S. Supreme Court ruling to strike down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) represents a legal rebuke of presidential overreach but does nothing to resolve the ongoing trade crisis threatening Canadian jobs and key industrial sectors.
VANCOUVER—The B.C. Labour Relations Board has ruled that Amazon violated the Labour Code by unlawfully imposing a wage freeze on unionized workers, upholding a complaint filed by Unifor.
HALIFAX-Unifor members at Parkland and Martha’s Place retirement homes in Nova Scotia have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action as contract talks continue across the three worksites. Members have delivered a mandate to negotiate wages aligned with long-term care workers in the province.
“Our caregiver members have spoken with one voice,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
OTTAWA - A new alliance of telecommunications workers is denouncing the offshoring of thousands of Canadian jobs by major telecommuncations corporations, to the detriment of the Canadian economy, as well as Canadians’ privacy, security and sovereignty.
OTTAWA – Representatives from the Canadian Telecommunications Workers Alliance – a coalition of unions representing tens of thousands of workers in the sector – will hold a press conference to launch their campaign to protect Canadian jobs from outsourcing, and to protect Canadians’ privacy and sovereignty.
TORONTO—Unifor denounces federal funding cuts to public transit, which threaten safe, reliable service and push costs onto working people and municipalities already under strain.
“Public transit is a public good and there is no better time to invest in both the services and the manufacturing of strong public transit in cities across Canada,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“Cuts to transit funding don’t save money. They shift the burden onto cities, workers, and riders through service reductions, fare hikes, and deteriorating working conditions.”
