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Contract talks break off with Coast Mountain Bus Company

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.”

Unifor negotiators say that there has been no progress on working conditions, benefits, or wages—contrary to a statement issued on Thursday by Coast Mountain Bus Company president Michael McDaniel.

Metro Vancouver transit operators serve strike notice

October 28, 2019

VANCOUVER—The failure of Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) to meaningfully address workers’ concerns about working conditions, wages, and benefits during this round of negotiations has led Unifor Local 111 and 2200 to serve 72-hour notice of job action.

“It’s not hard to understand what is happening here. The company is showing little respect for the difficult working conditions that our members must face every day,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Letter to Premier Blaine Higgs Re.: Clinic 554

Premier Blaine Higgs
Chancery Place
Fredericton, NB

Friday, October 25, 2019

Dear Premier Higgs,

 My name is Linda MacNeil and I am the Atlantic Regional Director for Unifor, Canada’s largest union in the private sector representing 315,000 members, including more than 7,500 workers in New Brunswick.

Unifor opens VIA Rail bargaining with eyes on real gains for members in passenger rail

MONTREAL- Unifor’s VIA Rail locals open bargaining in Montreal as contracts near expiration for more than 2,000 members. “Unifor members are looking forward to delivering the highest quality service for passengers today, and through the next generation of rail infrastructure,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “These bargaining teams are experienced, and ready to represent workers in the fight for a fair contract.” Unifor represents maintenance workers, on-board service personnel, chefs, sales agents and customer service staff at VIA Rail.

Kenney’s budget will do more harm than good

October 24, 2019

EDMONTON—Premier Jason Kenney’s cuts to provincial services are totally unwarranted and will only deepen the issues with Alberta’s economy, says Unifor.

“Austerity has been widely discredited but that won’t stop Jason Kenney from his old habits,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “He cannot cut his way to prosperity.”

Unifor welcomes B.C.’s adoption of UNDRIP

October 24, 2019

VICTORIA—Unifor applauds the leadership of the John Horgan government for introducing a bill to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

“The UNDRIP is important to reconciliation and helps build a legal framework to let Indigenous communities thrive,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Liberal minority presents opportunity for real progress for Canada’s workers

October 20, 2019 TORONTO –The election of a Liberal minority government, with the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois holding the balance of power gives workers a strong voice in Parliament. “This election was always about workers and big questions. How can we create good paying jobs, provide vital services including healthcare, and confront climate change as a country? Canadian voters delivered an answer on how today- we’ll do it together,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. Unifor actively opposed the Conservative election agenda with a successful campaign to Stop Scheer.

Unifor offers binding arbitration to help end Crowns strike

REGINA—As the province-wide service disruption enters its third week, Unifor has offered to go to binding arbitration on outstanding monetary issues with employers.

“Unifor members want to return to serving the people of Saskatchewan, but they won’t do it without a fair contract or a commitment from the Crowns to arbitration,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “If the Crowns agree to this reasonable offer, nearly 5,000 Crown workers could be back at work tomorrow.”

Unifor to provide Crowns bargaining update

REGINA—After a day of dialogue with Crown employers, Unifor National President Jerry Dias will hold a media availability to provide an update on Crown sector bargaining.

WHAT: Crowns sector bargaining update
WHO: Unifor National President Jerry Dias and other local union leaders
WHEN: October 18 at 5 p.m.
WHERE: SaskPower headquarters, 2025 Victoria Avenue, Regina

Ford Nation under community occupation

October 16, 2019

TORONTO—Today labour activists from across Ontario occupied Doug Ford’s office to demand action from the provincial government to prevent workplace death and injuries at Fiera Foods.

“Desperate times call for extreme measures and the situation at Fiera Foods is certainly desperate,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We are calling on the Doug Ford government to protect precarious workers like those at Fiera Foods and we won’t take silence as an answer.”

Allowing single sport betting a no-brainer

It is election time and voters want action, not words. They want commitments that are tangible and relatable, not ideas that will take years to be...

Unifor warns Co-op Refinery against replacement workers

October 16, 2019

REGINA—The construction of on-site living quarters for scab labour by the Co-op Refinery is only going to derail contract talks, warns Unifor.

“Making plans to bus scabs in to an active refinery is going to totally disrupt good-faith bargaining,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “It’s reckless and unnecessary.”

Coast Mountain Bus workers deliver overwhelming strike mandate

October 10, 2019 VANCOUVER – Unifor members at Coast Mountain Bus Company have delivered an overwhelming 99 per cent strike mandate, after negotiations for a new collective agreement broke off on October 3, 2019. “Our members take the responsibility of providing safe, dependable public transportation seriously and they’re asking Coast Mountain to properly recognize the dedication and effort that the workers put in day in and day out to properly deliver it,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

Water Security Agency workers reach tentative agreement

October 10, 2019

REGINA—Members from Unifor’s six Crowns are disappointed to announce that the Water Security Agency agreed to a tentative agreement that includes the two-year wage freeze imposed by the Scott Moe government.

Closure of the Fortress mill in Thurso

Unifor members working at the Fortress pulp mill in Thurso were stunned this week to learn of their employer’s decision to close down for three to...

Media Advisory - Coast Mountain Bus Company workers conduct strike vote

October 9, 2019

VANCOUVER – Unifor Coast Mountain Bus Company members will conduct a strike vote on Thursday, October 10, 2019.

“This strike vote takes place following months of negotiations with Coast Mountain,” said Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle. “This is an opportunity for our members to voice their concerns and vote ahead of the resumption of negotiations with the company on October 15.”

Unifor signs tentative agreement with Transforce

October 8, 2019

TORONTO—Shortly after serving 72-hour strike notice, Unifor Local 114 has secured a new tentative agreement for Dynamex Couriers, a subsidiary of Transforce.

“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for achieving their goals,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Dynamex Couriers have earned a fair contract.”

Unifor mobilizes Ontarians to Stop Doug Ford’s cuts

Unifor launched a new Ontario-wide campaign today that takes the Doug Ford government to task on its drastic budget cuts to municipalities, health care, and education, as well as the anti-worker legislation it plans to introduce when parliament returns later this fall.