All News

New report confirms truckers’ worst fears for black market

September 17, 2020

VANCOUVER—An independent report commissioned by the Office of BC Container Trucking Commissioner confirms that there is a growing two-tier system of “off-dock” container shipping at Port Metro Vancouver and that many current licensees are actively involved in this destabilizing behaviour.

Offshore workers call on government to stabilize industry

September 16, 2020

ST. JOHN’S—Hundreds of workers in the offshore oil and gas industry rallied at the Newfoundland and Labrador legislature today to demand protection from the turbulence in the industry caused by falling global oil prices and the COVID-19 economic slump.

Unifor welcomes restoration of normal aluminum trade with the U.S.

September 15, 2020

TORONTO—Canada’s aluminum workers welcomed the removal of unfair U.S. tariffs and credit the federal government’s strong response for today’s win.

“This dispute was no doubt resolved thanks to the stance taken by Justin Trudeau’s government and the efforts led by Chrystia Freeland and Mary Ng,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “It was the impending countermeasures that helped U.S. trade representatives realize that Canada was not going to take this lying down.”

Bargaining Update #4

Unifor members,

On September 8, 2020, National President Jerry Dias selected Ford Motor Company as the target Company to lead negotiations across the Detroit 3 automakers. It is the Union’s intent to reach a settlement with Ford that will set the pattern for wages, benefits, pensions, and other working conditions for autoworkers across Canada.

Recent tariffs on Canadian aluminum are senseless and hurt American interests

By Jerry Dias, Unifor National President as published in The Star on September 13, 2020

The Trump administration announced in late July that 10 per cent tariffs on primary aluminum imports from Canada would be levied once again, heeding the demands of a small group of industry insiders calling themselves the American Primary Aluminum Association (APAA).

This is a Labour Day unlike most others—and not just for the obvious reasons

Getting together in big groups, as we would normally at marches and picnics in the usual celebration of workers’ collective power, is just not possible or even a good idea during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What makes this Labour Day so different is that workers in Saskatchewan are quickly headed toward a reckoning with the Sask Party government that is at odds, if not overtly hostile, to working people’s interests.

Bargaining Update #3

Unifor members,

After having been in active negotiations in downtown Toronto with company officials at Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler, the Unifor Master Bargaining Committee have adjourned their meetings as of Friday September 4. This is in anticipation of Unifor National President Jerry Dias’ selection of the strike target, scheduled for Tuesday September 8 (for more details on the strike target and process, see below).

Through this pandemic, workers will exercise their power

By, Jerry Dias

The COVID-19 crisis has exposed many hard-truths about the state of Canada’s economy in 2020. 

The incompetence of our private sector in long-term care homes, for one. The lack of manufacturing capacity to produce critical goods when we need them, another. Generally unhelpful income security programs. 

The list goes on. 

But there’s a deep fault line in this crisis that runs straight through the world of work.

Jerry Dias: Through this pandemic, workers will exercise their power

This crisis has shone a public spotlight on one of the most troubling truths about our economy that requires careful reflection this Labour Day: the relentless devaluation of work. As usual, if decision-makers are not going to step up and bring the change that is needed, working people are going to take this fight into our own hands.

READ THE FULL COLUMN HERE

President’s Message: Through this pandemic, workers will exercise their power

The COVID-19 crisis has exposed many hard-truths about the state of Canada’s economy in 2020. The incompetence of our private sector in long-term care homes, for one. The lack of manufacturing capacity to produce critical goods when we need them, another. Generally unhelpful income security programs. The list goes on. But there’s a deep fault line in this crisis that runs straight through the world of work.

READ THE FULL PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE