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HALIFAX - Unifor is demanding Northern Pulp reverse its decision to end pension recall rights for members of Unifor Local 440.

“Unifor gave a strong recommendation to Northern Pulp to wait until the CCAA proceedings are resolved before making any decisions that affect members of Local 440,” said Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray. “Extending pension recall rights costs the company absolutely nothing out of pocket but they chose to snub the group of people who have been their most ardent supporters.”

VANCOUVER-Unifor is calling for an immediate response by all levels of government to support the Vancouver Island forestry sector following Paper Excellence’s announcement to curtail operations at its Crofton pulp mill indefinitely.

“An indefinite curtailment is an immeasurable loss for too many workers and their families who deserve so much better from Paper Excellence,” said National President Lana Payne. “These companies must be held to account and Canada and B.C. must support a value-added forestry industry that creates good, union jobs for generations to come.”

VANCOUVER—Coast Mountain Bus Company’s (CMBC) refusal to find a solution in the ongoing negotiations with transit supervisors resulted in two days of lost wages for transit operators and maintenance staff.

“I have been very clear with our members: they are not going to pay the price for CMBC’s inability to get their house in order,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “We encourage CMBC to get back to the bargaining table and find a solution before further disruptions occur.”

HALIFAX - Mechanics and service technicians at O’Regan’s BMW ratified their first collective agreement making them the first unionized service centre at a Halifax-area car dealership.

“Sitting across the table from the boss and having a say in your working conditions is at the heart of workplace democracy,” said National President Lana Payne. “Through collective bargaining, these workers have fought to build an agreement that supported their priorities. These members should be very proud of what they have accomplished.”

REGINA—Unifor Local 1-S and Local 2-S will make reversing the trend of contracting out unionized work a key priority as they begin bargaining this week with SaskTel.

WINNIPEG—Unifor enthusiastically supports the Manitoba government’s reported intention to introduce anti-scab legislation and single-step union certification.  

WINNIPEG—Wage increases, a signing bonus and shift premiums are highlights of a new collective agreement ratified by Unifor Local 144 members at the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation.

“The previous conservative government left gaming sector workers behind,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The gains in this contract help address the economic circumstances workers face, including the rising cost of living.”

TORONTO — Unifor is denouncing FTG Aerospace for using scab labour amid an ongoing labour dispute at its Toronto facility. 

"FTG’s decision to use scab labour is completely unacceptable. The company is demonstrating its complete lack of respect for its own employees while attempting to draw out this dispute at the same time,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Scabs are not qualified or certified to perform the work our highly-skilled members do and this poses a major safety concern.”

HALIFAX — Unifor applauds the Nova Scotia government’s decision to extend group benefits and a defined benefit pension plan to child care workers in the province.

WINNIPEG—Unifor Local 144 members will vote on a contract later this week after negotiations produced a tentative agreement today.

“Our members at Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries demonstrated to the employer they were fed up with the status quo,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Their solidarity and skilled bargaining has resulted in a contract they can be proud of.”

TORONTO – Unifor aviation members are gathering today at Pearson International Airport during the busy holiday travel season to bring awareness to poor working conditions in the sector that lead to delays, cancellations, lost baggage, and packed airports.

“We all know that travel chaos is common, even without the holiday rush,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.

COMOX, B.C.– Unifor Local 114 members at Pacific Western Transportation (PWTransit) began strike action this morning in Comox and Campbell River, B.C. to make a stand to improve public transit. 

“We don’t take strike action lightly, but this is about fairness for our drivers, and this is about fixing the systemic problems in our transit system to provide better working conditions and quality service for the public,” said Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle. 

MONTREAL - Unifor announced a significant donation of $70,000 today in support of public sector workers engaged in strike action for better working conditions and quality public services in Quebec.

"At this crucial point in the negotiations, the government is counting on the strikers' exhaustion. By calling for solidarity, we hope to inspire other unions to join us in supporting their colleagues in the public services. Together, we can demonstrate that the collective strength of workers is unshakeable," said Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier.

VANCOUVER – Unifor has submitted a 72-hour strike notice to Pacific Western Transportation (PWTransit) after Local 114 transit workers voted to reject a tentative agreement.

The strike deadline is 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023.

Local 114’s contract with PWTransit expired March 31, 2023.

PWT is contracted by BC Transit to provide services in Campbell River and Comox Valley, B.C. and work as transit operators, handy dart operators, mechanics, and cleaners.

CALGARY—Representatives from Unifor’s energy local unions have ratified the tentative agreement that establishes the pattern for more than 7,500 members of the union’s National Energy Program.

“I congratulate the bargaining committee on setting this new pattern for our members across the energy sector,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “It was a difficult round of bargaining making it all the more important for locals to work together in order to make progress for our energy members.”

KINCARDINE—Unifor has reached a tentative collective agreement, covering 120 frontline grocery workers, with Sobeys Kincardine. 

Details of the tentative agreement will not be released prior to being presented to members for a ratification vote in the coming week.

OCHU/CUPE, SEIU Healthcare and Unifor say the government must prevent further closures by entering hospital negotiations to invest in frontline staff.

VANCOUVER – Unifor members working at Pacific Western Transportation (PWTransit) in Comox Valley and Campbell River, B.C. have reached a tentative deal with the employer.

A ratification vote is scheduled to take place Sunday, Dec. 10.

More details about the contract will be released following ratification.

Local 114’s contract with PWT expired March 31, 2023.

KINCARDINE—More than 120 Unifor members at Sobeys Kincardine could be on strike effective 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 7 if the employer, who profited $261 million last quarter alone, does not come to the table with a fair agreement. 
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“Our union is here to deliver improvements in pay and working conditions across the board for grocery workers,” says Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “We expect Sobeys to do as Metro and Loblaws have done and meet our members’ expectations. ”

TORONTO –Urgent concerns regarding the staffing crisis in Ontario long-term care homes and emergency rooms were confirmed in today’s Ontario Auditor General's report

TORONTO – Unifor members of First Student Bus – which provides school bus services for English and French language schools in Cornwall and Embrun, Ont. – have resoundingly ratified their new contract by 95%.

“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for staying strong and fighting for a good and fair deal for our members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 

KINGSTON— Telecommunications workers from Expertech will converge in Kingston, Ontario, on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, rallying against Bell's sustained efforts in job erosion through practices such as offshoring and contracting out. The unified stand calls for full-time jobs, equitable wages and benefits that keep up with the pace of inflation.

WINNIPEG—Unifor Local 144 members have voted overwhelmingly, with 98% in favour, to take strike action if a fair contract cannot be reached this month. 

MONTREAL - VIA Rail Canada’s new baggage policy and reservation system introduces sweeping changes that are catching passengers and workers off-guard as rail travel gears up for the holiday season.

TORONTO – Unifor says yesterday’s announcement by the federal government to forge a path forward with Google by implementing the Online News Act and keeping local and national news content accessible for Canadians is encouraging, and the union eagerly awaits to see the finalized regulations.

VANCOUVER – Unifor members working at Pacific Western Transportation (PWTransit) in Comox Valley and Campbell River, B.C. have rejected the latest contract offer by 86% after the company did not close the gap to address issues of wage disparity, scheduling, and overtime language.

Members spoke out clearly at ratification meetings held Nov. 26 and voted to reject this tentative agreement.

CROFTON—The fourth consecutive curtailment at the Paper Excellence paper mill in Crofton will keep more than 100 workers laid off and the community left wondering why they have nothing to show for $19 million in public funding from two levels of government.

The new curtailment will reportedly extend to the end of February 2024.

COMOX—A strike at Pacific Western Transportation (PWTransit) in Comox and Campbell River in British Columbia has been averted as the bargaining committee of Unifor Local 114 and the employer have reached a tentative agreement.

“Congratulations to our members at Local 114 in the Comox Valley for bargaining tough to achieve fairness in a region with a rapidly growing cost of living,” Lana Payne, Unifor National President. 

More details about the contract will be made available upon ratification. A vote is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 26, 2023.

A tentative agreement has been reached between Unifor and No Frills.

“Our bargaining committee at No Frills was determined to build on what grocery store workers had achieved this past summer with Metro,” said Lana Payne, National President of Unifor. “This tentative agreement delivers pattern wages and many other improvements for our members.”

VANCOUVER—The proposed regulations outlined today by B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains delivers long-overdue protections for misclassified gig workers but will stop short of giving them the full employment rights all Canadians deserve, says Unifor.

“Powerful digital platform employers have come to rely on precarious employment, and governments can and must raise the floor for gig workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.