All News

Unifor serves strike notice with Transforce

October 7, 2019

TORONTO—Transforce’s failure to make a fair wage offer to their Dynamex Couriers has forced their union to serve 72-hour strike notice.

“The boom of e-commerce is happening on the backs of couriers,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “It’s time Transforce share their success with the workers that keep it in business.”

Crown workers back at work

October 7, 2019

REGINA—5,000 striking Crown workers will be back at work on Tuesday after Premier Scott Moe left the province in the middle of the largest strike action in decades.

“Premier Moe caused the strike, and now he has fled the province and his responsibilities” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Unifor retains the legal right to resume picket lines if necessary. 

Dearborn Ford workers ratify new agreement

October 7, 2019

KAMLOOPS—Unifor 10-B members working at Dearborn Ford (a subsidiary of Cam Clark Auto Group) have voted to ratify a new three-year collective agreement that includes wage increases and a pension enhancement.

“The new collective agreement at Dearborn Ford is the result of tough bargaining and impressive solidarity,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The bargaining committee and the entire unit should be proud of their work.”

Government has refused multiple offers to avoid Crowns strike

October 3, 2019

REGINA—Unifor’s various offers to find a resolution to the ongoing contract dispute with Crown employers have all been rebuffed by the provincial government, leaving the union with no other option than to strike.

“Contract negotiations must be about a give and take—but the Moe government’s refusal to bargain fairly is driving Saskatchewan towards a major service disruption,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Unifor has presented creative offers to find a path forward, but the government seems intent on forcing a strike.”

October 4 MMIWG2S Honouring & Awareness Day

October 4 is a day to honour murdered and missing Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited peoples (MMIWG2S) while showing love and support to their families.

Earlier in 2019, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls published its final report. The Inquiry’s Commissioners produced a comprehensive set of recommendations to be acted upon to end a cycle of violence that was founded from the beginning of colonialism and perpetuated by successive governments and institutions.

Important message for LPNs on recent NSGEU reclassification arbitration

Dear members,

Last week, an arbitrator’s decision was released resulting from a grievance filed by NSGEU in 2011 on behalf of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) represented by NSGEU Local 42 of the former Capital District Health Authority. The arbitrated ruling was in favour of the NSGEU’s claim that the role of the LPN had been substantially altered from its original description.

Unifor supports this recognition of the expanded scope of practice of LPNs.

Crown negotiations break off, job action to begin Monday morning

REGINA—Employers have called off contract talks after they steadfastly refused to move off of a government-imposed wage freeze.

“Work-to-rule” job action is scheduled to begin Monday at 12:01 a.m., with escalation planned for the end of the week.

“Picket lines are our last resort, but we’ve said from the start that wage freezes were simply not fair,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Considering the Premier gave himself a 2.3% raise this year, Crown workers’ demands are more than reasonable.”

Co-op Refinery workers reach bargaining impasse

September 27, 2019

REGINA—After bargaining for the last nine months Unifor Local 594 has declared an impasse with the employer at the Co-op Refinery Complex.

“Unifor members are the key to safety at the refinery. It’s only reasonable that a company making billion-dollar profits puts a deal on the table that properly addresses the needs of their workers,” said Scott Doherty, Assistant to the Unifor National President.

Unifor members on Hibernia ratify Energy Pattern Agreement

September 27, 2019

ST. JOHN’S—Members of Unifor Local 2121 have ratified a four-year collective agreement that boasts an 11.75 per cent increase over the life of the contract.

“Unifor is Canada’s energy union,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Workers on Hibernia help generate incredible wealth and they’ve earned the significant wage increase.”

Workers at six more Crown corporations serve notice of job action

REGINA—The Moe government’s refusal to abandon wage freezes for Crown workers has forced the union from SaskEnergy, SaskPower, SecurTek, DirectWest, SaskWater, and the Water Security Agency to file notice of job action.

They join SaskTel, making a total of seven Crowns that could be in some form of job action or work stoppage beginning Monday at 12:01 a.m.

Last-minute talks secure new agreement for IMP Aerospace workers on the verge of strike

September 26, 2019

HALIFAX – Unifor Local 2215 members at IMP Aerospace voted to accept a last-minute offer from the company, hours before strike action was to begin.

“Our members were firm in rejecting the company’s previous offer and were ready to hit the picket line Friday morning,” said Linda MacNeil, Atlantic Regional Director. “A strike is a last resort, so they are glad the company reconsidered and came back with a more reasonable offer.”

Time running out for Scott Moe to make a reasonable offer

September 26, 2019

REGINA—Unifor negotiators are working down to the wire but time is running out for the Scott Moe government to make a fair offer to nearly 5,000 Crown workers with strike mandates.

“It’s not a hard formula: show Crown workers the respect they deserve and we can avert province-wide job action,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Without a serious offer, Scott Moe will engineer service disruption that could have been avoided.”

Advisory: Unifor National President in Regina to provide update on Crowns bargaining

REGINA—Negotiators for Unifor, including National President Jerry Dias, will be making an announcement regarding the ongoing bargaining with seven Crown corporations in Saskatchewan.

“Saskatchewan Crown utilities and services are the envy of other provinces,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The hard-working men and women that deliver high-quality public services have earned a fair contract.”

Nearly 5,000 workers from SaskTel, SaskPower, SaskEnergy, SaskWater, the Water Security Agency, SecurTek, and DirectWest are in a legal strike position.

NS government creates bursaries for Continuing Care Assistant training

The Nova Scotia government has dedicated $460,000 in funding for bursaries to those entering a Continuing Care Assistant (CCA) training program in an effort to boost recruitment. The government-appointed Expert Panel on Long-Term Care recommended more funding for training as part of their report delivered in January.

September 25 Update from Local 2215 Bargaining Committee

We have provided notice to both the company and federal conciliator that the membership of Local 2215 at IMP Aerospace have rejected the company’s final offer and voted to take strike action effective Friday.

It is our hope the company will reconsider their final offer and provide a revised offer for the bargaining committee to consider. As of Wednesday morning, this has not happened.

Unifor opens bargaining with DHL

September 23, 2019

TORONTO— DHL must share gains from the explosion of e-commerce sales and end regional disparities as Unifor begins contract talks with the world’s largest shipping company.

“DHL is a successful global giant, but it is the workers on the ground that make that success possible,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Fair compensation is an important goal for this round of negotiations.”

Workers at seven Crown corporations set to strike

September 19, 2019

REGINA—Unifor members at four more Crown corporations have voted overwhelmingly to strike if necessary, bringing the province-wide total to seven.

“Scott Moe is steering Saskatchewan towards a major service disruption,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “All because he refuses to grant Crown workers the same pay increase that he gave himself.”

Support the Global Climate Strikes

Delegates at our Constitutional Convention in August unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the Global Climate Week of Action taking place...