All News

Newfoundland and Labrador’s part-time work problem

Linda MacNeil, Unifor Atlantic Regional Director

Part-time work is nothing new to Canadians because employers have long exploited a gap in our employment standards that allows them to discriminate against them. It’s no secret that part-time workers earn below average pay, have no guaranteed schedule of hours, and are often denied benefits that their full-time counterparts enjoy.

More than 3.6 million working people (or about 20 per cent of the workforce) earn their living as part-time workers in Canada.

Refinery workers frustrated no fair deal reached after mediation breakdown

REGINA—Nearly 800 workers at the Co-op Refinery are disappointed that mandatory mediation made little to no progress with the employer and they are still without a fair deal that doesn’t include concessions.

"We are disappointed Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) continues to come to the bargaining table demanding roll backs in our pensions and other concessions, despite the fact that this employer continues to rake in billions of dollars in profits,” said Kevin Bittman, President of Unifor Local 594, the union representing Co-op Refinery workers.

Goodbye, Don Cherry, and good riddance

Every era must come to an end, and thankfully the end has come for Don Cherry’s.

In a long overdue move, Sportsnet finally cut ties with the host of Coach’s Corner this week. 

It should have happened a long time ago. 

Years of racist and misogynist comments, uninformed opinions on issues such as climate change and advocating a hard-hitting style of hockey that, frankly, put the health of players at risk, finally made his continued employment untenable.

Requiring streaming giants to invest in CanCon isn’t complicated: it’s the law

Jerry Dias, National President of Unifor and Daniel Bernhard, Executive Director of Friends of Canadian Broadcasting

Today, the Disney+ streaming service becomes available in Canada, hot on the heels of Apple+, which launched on November 1st. Many are celebrating their arrival as a boon for Canadian viewers: hundreds of new programs, available anytime, anywhere, for less than $9 per month.

VIA Rail Bargaining Update # 2

Unifor Council 4000 and Local 100 met with VIA Rail in Montreal this week to continue bargaining.

Both committees continued to resolve outstanding grievances.

We then proceeded to exchange proposals with the Company and discussed work rules. We will
continue to work diligently to secure a fair contract for all members.

We reiterate that members identified a number of key issues in this contract negotiation, including a
strengthened pension plan, an end to contracting out, made-in-Canada fleet sourcing, part time and
work/rest rules.

Unifor calls on Coast Mountain to negotiate to end the transit strike

Unifor will return to the bargaining table to negotiate in good faith with Coast Mountain Bus Company, but warns that more inaction from the employer will cause further transit disruptions by the end of the week.

“We’ve been bargaining for months. Transit workers in Metro Vancouver have been very patient with the employer,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “But ultimately our members have a legal right to withdraw their services if the disrespect from Translink and CMBC continues and a contract cannot be achieved through bargaining alone.”

Anti-harassment statement

Creating and preserving a safe harassment-free environment at all union activities, events and meetings is our collective responsibility, members, elected representatives and staff. When we challenge all forms of harassment and oppression we accept our collective responsibility to each other, and we accept it is a necessary part of building our union and a strong labour movement. All locals, members and retirees are encouraged to read out the Unifor anti-harassment statement at the beginning of each meeting, union activity, event or conference.

Unifor growing in hospitality sector

Unifor continues to grow in the hospitality sector, with more than 150 workers at two hotels in the Toronto area voting to join the union in just two

Unifor proud of its role during the federal election

We aren’t a shy bunch at Unifor - and that was certainly proved true during last month’s federal election.

In fact, we did exactly what we said we’d do - play an active role in ensuring that Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives never form government and never get the chance to turn the clock back on progressive policies this country needs.

We reached out to our members in key ridings across Canada, making sure they were aware of what was at stake in the election if the Conservatives won.

Free Anne Krueger and all jailed Filipino labour organizers

TORONTO - Unifor strongly condemns the arrest and detention of 57 members of labour and civil society organizations in the Philippines.

“I call upon the Filipino government to immediately drop the trumped-up charges against Anne Krueger and all detained labour organizers. The sudden, widespread arrest of nearly 60 activists is a reprehensible fear tactic, clearly aimed at suppressing a growing movement for workers’ rights,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Contract talks break off with Coast Mountain Bus Company

October 31, 2019

VANCOUVER—Coast Mountain Bus Company’s refusal to make any significant offers over the last 48 hours have forced Unifor Locals 111 and 2200 negotiators to call off talks.

“We have not had a serious offer from the company since we served strike notice,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “In other words, the company feels very comfortable with system-wide job action.”

Submission to Nova Scotia Environment Re: Northern Pulp Replacement Effluent Treatment Facility Project Focus Report

[Submitted online at: https://www.novascotia.ca/nse/ea]

October 31, 2019

Environmental Assessment Branch
Nova Scotia Environment
Halifax, NS

Re: Northern Pulp Replacement Effluent Treatment Facility Project Focus Report

Greetings,

We are pleased to have an opportunity to provide comments regarding the Focus Report for the Northern Pulp Replacement Effluent Treatment Facility Project, an essential development for the future of forestry in Nova Scotia.

Transit strike would start with uniform and overtime ban

VANCOUVER—As negotiations continue, transit workers have announced that, should a tentative agreement not be reached by 8 a.m. on Friday, November 1, strike action will begin with a uniform ban by transit operators and an overtime ban by maintenance workers.

VIA Rail Bargaining Update # 1

Unifor Council 4000 and Local 100 opened bargaining with VIA Rail in Montreal on October 25-26 as contracts near expiration for more than 2,000 members.

The opening included introductions and an exchange of proposals, and significant progress in the resolution of outstanding grievances. Your bargaining committees will continue to work diligently to secure a fair contract for all members.