All News

Unifor and Compass Minerals return to negotiations

July 10, 2018

GODERICH – Unifor and Compass Minerals have agreed to return to the bargaining table on Thursday, July 12, 2018, at 9 a.m. Peaceful picketing at the Goderich Mine is occurring.

“Compass Minerals is committed to negotiating a collective agreement and getting our employees back to work with an agreement that focuses on the safety of our employees in the current operational environment,” said Anthony Sepich, Compass Minerals’ Senior Vice President, Salt.

Trading away the potential for stronger labour rights

With all the talk of demanding (as our government should) labour rights under NAFTA that are progressive and enforceable, it begs the question: what happened to demanding those rights when negotiating the new Trans-Pacific trade deal?

Canada capitulated in a rush to sign any trade deal.

It was a missed opportunity to create a new precedent for trade agreements. Not to put too fine of a point on it, but workers were sold out, proving that these trade deals have never been about raising the standards for workers, but creating profit for corporations.

Casino Ajax workers vote to strike if necessary

July 9, 2018

AJAX—Workers represented by Unifor Local 1090 at Casino Ajax have voted 99 per cent in favour of strike action if a fair settlement cannot be reached.

“Unifor members are pivotal to the success of Casino Ajax,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “They deserve a fair contract and decent wages.”

Victoria Times Colonist print press to shut down

July 9, 2018

VICTORIA - More media workers are losing their jobs in Canada’s growing newspaper industry crisis says Unifor after Glacier Media announced it is shutting down the pressroom of the Victoria Times Colonist. 

“We are saddened that this iconic newspaper on Vancouver Island will no longer be printed by Unifor Local 2000 members,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Support building for salt miners as company refuses to negotiate

July 8, 2018

GODERICH – Despite Unifor’s repeated requests to resume negotiations to end an 11-week strike at the salt mine in Goderich, Compass Minerals refuses to negotiate fairly.

“The members and hundreds of supporters now bolstering the picket line have made it crystal clear that not a single scab is getting past,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The national union and all 315,000 members are behind them in solidarity.”

Unifor National President rallies with striking Thunder Bay health care workers

July 6, 2018

THUNDER BAY – Unifor National President Jerry Dias will join striking workers in a solidarity rally at the Port Arthur Health Centre in Thunder Bay, Ontario on Monday, July 9, 2018.

“These hard-working women have been on strike for nearly three months now,” said Dias. “We’re on the picket line to let the employer know this fight for workers’ rights will continue until fair wages and secure jobs are won.”

Stop shipping scabs, Unifor tells Araneda

July 6, 2018

SUSSEX, NB—Unifor is calling on Vic Drilling CEO Laura Araneda to stop profiting from a strike at Compass Minerals by flying replacement workers to Ontario.

“Laura Araneda is siding with a large American mining firm against Canadian miners,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “She could help end a three-month strike tomorrow. But instead, she’s deliberately undermining families in a small town in Ontario.”

Update to members from the Nova Scotia Council of Health Support Unions

The Council of Unions Support bargaining team is pleased to provide this update to members on progress so far towards reaching a new collective agreement.

As you are aware the mediation – arbitration agreement between the four unions, (NSGEU, NSNU, CUPE and Unifor) and the Nova Scotia Health Authority and IWK Children’s hospital will resolve and conclude all collective agreements for the four bargaining units in Nursing, Health Care, Support Services, and Administrative Professionals by the end of 2018.

Ontario health care agreements ratified

Several locals covering hospitals across Ontario have now ratified collective agreements that are similar to the bargaining pattern that was set

Striking miners thank Goderich community

In appreciation of the Goderich and surrounding community’s support for the nearly 350 workers on strike at Compass Minerals, Unifor hosted a free...

Trump’s border policy damages our shared humanity

Over the past couple of weeks, Donald Trump has truly shown us the depth of his cruelty, at least I hope he has.

Trump’s administration has been separating children – including babies and toddlers – from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border on the flimsy excuse that the parents have committed a crime by trying to escape the violence at home and provide a better and safer life for their families.

D-J lockout enters week 80 in Gander

As the shameful lockout of Local 597 members enters week 80 in Gander N.L., Unifor is intensifying its campaign to fix outdated provincial labour laws

Compass mine blockaded by striking workers

Miners represented by Unifor, frustrated by the company’s continued use of replacement workers at the world’s largest salt mine, have blockaded access to the road used during shift change.

“Crossing a picket line is shameful behaviour that cannot be tolerated,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “No job is worth stealing food from another worker’s family.” 

Unifor launches ‘I Shop Canada’ campaign

June 28, 2018

TORONTO – In support of workers and good paying jobs, Unifor has launched a national

‘I Shop Canada’ campaign to promote and increase the purchase of made-in-Canada products and services.

I Shop Canada is about making a choice at the cash register to use our collective consumer purchasing power to aid workers in our communities and across the country,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

Unifor members at CAE vote to strike

In a union meeting held on June 22, members of Unifor Local 522, voted 93% against the latest offer from the employer and immediately walked off...

Unifor holds People’s Trade Town Hall in Windsor

June 26, 2018

WINDSOR – Unifor invites community members to a People’s Trade Town Hall in Windsor, Ontario on Wednesday June 27, 2018.

“Trade is an issue that impacts all of us – every worker, and every community. This is especially evident as the U.S. escalates a trade war with attacks on Canadian industries including auto, steel and aluminum,”said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

WHAT: Unifor People’s Trade Town Hall