VICTORIA—Unifor is back at the bargaining table with the Empress Hotel to negotiate a collective agreement that can serve as a template for upcoming negotiations in the hospitality sector.
“Unifor is a strong union for hotel workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Unifor members are leading by example and negotiating industry-leading contracts. What happens this spring at the Empress will help lead the way for our other negotiations.”
ST. CATHARINES-Unifor members at the General Motors (GM) St. Catharines Propulsion Plant will be the first Detroit Three facility in Canada to produce electric vehicle propulsion systems, securing a future role in the industry’s transition to EV manufacturing.
MONTREAL—After the federal government’s Request for Qualifications for the proposed High Frequency Rail (HFR) line, Unifor is calling on the transportation minister to provide clarity about the long-term plan for VIA Rail.
MONTREAL - Unifor announced today that the union has broken off talks with Canadian National Rail (CN) and will be commencing strike votes early next week.
“In this climate of massive profits CN is proposing a multitude of concessions demonstrating just how out of touch they are,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Our hard-working rail workers have made CN the profitable company that it is today and will not accept an agreement that attacks our union and devalues them and their work.”
WINDSOR—Concessionary demands for contracting out work are among the issues that will force Unifor Locals 1959 and 240 to begin legal strike action at Windsor Salt tonight at midnight.
“When the employer comes with concessions and schemes to bust the union, Unifor members are going to fight back every time,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Workers at Windsor Salt have the full backing of our union.”
MONTREAL - Unifor members at Canadian Pacific (CP) Rail have ratified a new two-year contract.
“Rail workers, just like workers in many sectors across Canada, are bargaining in particularly challenging conditions right now,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The members of the 101-R bargaining committee remained focused and committed to achieving a fair agreement for their membership. I applaud them for their work and look forward to their continued efforts to improve working conditions for their members in the future.”
TORONTO – Unifor Media Council is launching a new media discussion paper—Breaking the News: Media Workers Under Attack—which focuses on confronting the increasing harassment of media workers.
“We hear stories from our media members all the time about the hate, racism, homophobia and misogyny they face on a daily basis, online and in-the-field,” said Unifor Media Council Chair Julie Kotsis.
ESTERHAZY, SK—Wage increases form the cornerstone of a new collective agreement ratified February 13, 2023 between Unifor Local 892 and Mosaic Potash Esterhazy Limited.
“Unifor members working at Mosaic stood united in their demands for a fair contract,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “They can be very proud of what they accomplished.”
TORONTO – Unifor is extremely concerned about the reported editorial interference at Queen’s Park Briefing (QP Briefing). These are serious allegations that undermine the integrity necessary for independent, fact-based journalism.
Unifor was made aware of allegations of editorial interference at QP Briefing late last week, which propelled a journalist and a management editor to resign in protest. The union strongly condemns any action that leads to this kind of editorial interference.
ST. JOHN’S - The Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal has ruled that Unifor’s challenge of an arbitrator’s decision affecting Exploits Valley Air Services (EVAS) pilots can go forward.
“The employer took advantage of the pandemic and denied pilots their recall rights as airline operations ramped back up, forcing them to unfairly re-start their careers upon their return,” said Jennifer Murray, Atlantic Regional Director. “Unifor will continue to fight for EVAS pilots and protect the rights enshrined in their collective agreement.”
TORONTO – Unifor’s Social Justice Fund is making a $75,000 donation to the Humanitarian Coalition for the Türkiye and Syria Earthquake Relief Fund.
“The scale of the damage and suffering caused by these earthquakes is overwhelming, and the response must match the scale of the crisis,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The Humanitarian Coalition is bringing together international partners to support search and rescue and family reunification, as well as deliver vital aid including physical and mental health supports.”
ST. JOHN’S-Unifor is calling on the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and the President and Vice-Chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador (MUN) to act to resolve the issues of striking Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association (MUNFA) members.
ST. CLAUDE, MAN.—Unifor members working at Lactalis Dairy have ratified a new collective agreement with wage increases and improved benefits.
“Congratulations to the bargaining committee of Local 755 on their great work,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The new agreement will see improved wages and benefits as we continue to fight hard for workers across bargaining tables everywhere.”
Quebec City – Members of Unifor Local 1044, working at Gecko Alliance, were told last week that production will cease by July 2023 as the company has decided to transfer its operations remaining production to its plant in Mexico.
More than 15 people will lose their jobs. This is in addition to the dozens of people laid off since the beginning of the wave of relocation that began a few years ago.
WINDSOR, ONT. –Postmedia's decision to close the Windsor Star's Starway Printing Plant brings an end to more than a century of daily print newspaper publishing in Windsor and comes at the cost of eliminating roughly 75 media jobs in the city, say unions Unifor and CWA Canada.
Sault Ste. Marie, ON – EllisDon Facilities Services (SAH) Inc. workers represented by Unifor Local 1359 will conduct an information picket outside the Sault Area Hospital on February 1 to demand the company return to the bargaining table instead of going to arbitration.
Unifor and CWA Canada locals and members in Windsor are protesting Postmedia’s decision to eliminate editorial and inserter positions, and outsource printing of the Windsor Star, cutting the jobs of over 75 people.
CALGARY—Unifor Local 1410 members were successful in winning unionization for the part-time merchandisers in a new four-year collective agreement ratified on Jan. 28, 2023.
“Organizing new members is a key priority for many Unifor locals,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Local 1410 should be very proud of the work they’ve done to secure an excellent agreement and expand the bargaining unit. Congratulations to them and welcome to our new members.”
TORONTO –Unifor is disappointed and frustrated that Postmedia has largely kept the union and media workers hanging with a slow bleed of information that has provided no real clarity to workers about what jobs are on the chopping block.
“Workers are still in the dark after the company announced restructuring plans over a week ago. To dangle dire news that is detrimental to media workers’ livelihoods, careers and families is disrespectful and hurtful to the workers who have given so much to the company,” said Unifor’s National President Lana Payne.
OTTAWA – As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet gather in Hamilton for a three-day retreat, a broad coalition of unions and progressive groups says that implementing a comprehensive pharmacare program must be a top priority for the Liberal government. The cost-of-living crisis has significantly increased cost-related obstacles to Canadians’ access to prescription drugs, while high drug prices are draining billions of dollars from hospitals’ budgets.
DELTA, B.C.—Workers at the Cascades casino in Delta became Unifor’s newest members after the B.C. Labour Board certified the unit on January 24, 2023.
“Unifor is very proud to welcome a new group of hospitality and gaming workers into our union, joining thousands of Unifor members in the sector. We thank the Cascades workers for choosing Unifor and I know they are eager to get started on having a say in improving their working conditions,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
TORONTO- The Bank of Canada’s decision to impose a quarter-point interest rate hike willfully ignores inflation data, unfairly jeopardizes workers’ jobs and fails to address the root causes of price increases.
CROFTON, B.C.—The combined investments of the David Eby government, the federal government and Paper Excellence will help recall more than 100 workers at the pulp and paper mill in Crofton.
TORONTO –Unifor is looking at all options to protect media workers after Postmedia announced restructuring plans today, which includes laying off workers in the media sector.
"We will do everything in our power to protect our members working in the media sector,” said Unifor’s National President Lana Payne. “Journalists and media workers often put their lives on the line to provide fact-based reporting to the public and they deserve respect, not constantly worrying when the next axe in the newsroom will drop.”
HALIFAX- Members of Unifor MWF 1 ratified a new four-and-a-half year collective agreement with Irving Shipbuilding.
“On behalf of the union, I send my thanks and congratulations to the MWF 1 bargaining committee for what they achieved for workers at the Halifax Shipyard,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “In addition to important economic improvements, this agreement will support the growth of the skilled workforce in the shipyard, an anchor for good union employment in the Halifax region.”
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C.-The permanent closure of the pulp line at Canfor’s Prince George mill was preventable, says Unifor.
“Hundreds of families have been forced to deal with job loss due to an entirely preventable mill closure,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Our union, along with many others, has been advocating for better and more sustainable forestry policies for years. It’s clear this government is not moving fast enough to repair the damage done by the B.C. Liberals.”
TORONTO- Unifor will continue to fight for public health care in the face of Ontario PC government’s latest steps into privatization.
“This is far from the first step of Ontario’s path toward private healthcare, but this must be where it ends,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Public health care in Ontario is too important and we will not allow this government to bring us closer to an American-style for-profit system of health.”
VANCOUVER- Unifor Local 101R has reached a tentative agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), covering 1,200 workers at 18 locations from British Columbia to Quebec.
“These are hard working members who provide a vital service and I know the Bargaining Committee was determined to make progress during these difficult times,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “I thank the Committee for their outstanding work.”
TORONTO—The Ontario Minister of Health was briefed on Bill 124’s ill effects rippling across Ontario’s health care system, newly obtained ministerial briefing documents have revealed.
Accessibility
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