TORONTO –A new independent study verifies a closure of the General Motors (GM) Oshawa Assembly Plant would create an economic shock, resulting in 24,000 lost jobs and a loss of $1 billion per year in government revenue.
“We’re looking at tens of thousands of jobs and a direct hit to the GDP,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “Should GM proceed with plans to close Oshawa, the economic impact would be substantial, both in the short and long term.”
WINDSOR – Unifor National President Jerry Dias will be available to media in Windsor, Ontario following a meeting between the union and General Motors (GM) on proposals to save the Oshawa Assembly Plant.
“Unifor presented General Motors with solid options to maintain production in Oshawa last month,” said Dias. “Our position is clear that we expect GM to allocate product and continue plant operations past 2019.”
WHAT: Unifor comments on meeting with General Motors
TORONTO – Unifor continues a major advertising campaign today with the debut of a new 30-second television commercial condemning General Motors for the decision to abandon the Oshawa assembly plant while the company continues to expand production in Mexico.
“We are making sure Canadians understand that GM is betraying Canadian taxpayers and the automaker needs to realize that if they expect Canadian consumers to remain loyal to GM vehicles, they need to be loyal to GM workers and keep building here,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor’s National President.
VANCOUVER—Unifor is disappointed with the referendum results but says it is hard to ignore that four in ten British Columbians wanted a fairer system of voting.
“Unifor members rose to the occasion, and despite falling short, we’re proud of our role in the campaign to make B.C.’s elections fairer,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
TORONTO – News from meeting between the union and General Motors (GM) at its Detroit headquarters.
Unifor also unveiled a major advertising strategy today.
The advertising blitz targets both Canadian and American audiences with television, radio, print, digital and out-of-home advertising. This major paid-advertising campaign is driving a message to a broader audience to engage and inform consumers as part of the union’s #SaveOshawaGM campaign, a nationwide call to support autoworkers and to keep good jobs in Canada.
People of good conscience disagree all the time – always have, always will. It would be great if we could figure out a way to agree on the major issue of the day, but I’m not holding my breath.
This is not entirely a bad thing, of course. When our views and ideas are challenged, it forces us to sharpen our arguments, and to zero in on what is most important to us. In the end, debate over what policy or action to pursue makes for better policy.
At least, when it’s done right, with good will and with both sides respectful of the other.
MONTREAL— A new tentative collective agreement has been reached between Unifor Local 100 and CN.
“Congratulations to the bargaining committee, who have been working very hard over the last two months to make significant gains for our members,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Unifor represents 2100 workers at Local 100 who work at CN across Canada.
Negotiations began October 5, 2018. The last collective agreement expires at the end of the month.
MONTREAL – As Unifor members were protesting in seven Canadian cities, VIA Rail Canada awarded a $989-million contract to a German company that will build trains for Canada’s passenger rail service.
“This is a betrayal of Canadian workers and taxpayers who fund VIA Rail and who expect this crown corporation to show some loyalty by creating jobs here to build our economy,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor’s National President.
MONTREAL – Today Unifor members who work for VIA Rail Canada will send a strong message to their employer and the federal government at train stations across Canada.
“This crown corporation should be creating good Canadian jobs and building a national rail service that we can all be proud of, not contracting out work to foreign multinational companies,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
This year marks the 70th anniversary that the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Human Rights Day commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that states that human rights are not the preserve of any one nation, race, or gender but that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
TORONTO – Unifor and the union’s Social Justice Fund have donated $146,000 to women’s shelters across the country in recognition of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
VANCOUVER - Unifor applauds introduction of CleanBC plan and encourages the swift implementation of its ambitious programs.
“CleanBC is a measurable plan designed in collaboration with workers that will re-establish B.C. as a climate leader,” said Joie Warnock, Unifor Western Regional Director. “The plan shows promise of cutting carbon pollution while ensuring that the B.C. economy will continue to grow and support workers with good, green jobs.”
