Rob Moquin, a former paramedic and now a Unifor National Staff Representative, delivered a powerful speech today during the Situation Critical: Ongoing Crisis in Paramedic Services Sparks Call for Action media conference at Queen’s Park. He spoke about the devastating impact of staffing shortages on paramedics and the communities they serve.
Unifor stands in solidarity with Korean trade unions in defence of democracy.
Unifor stands in full support and solidarity with labour unions across South Korea in the wake of protests against sitting President Yoon Suk Yeol and his attempt to subvert democracy and impose martial law in the country.
Originally published in the Toronto Star December 2, 2024
By Lana Payne, Contributor
Lana Payne is the national president of Unifor.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened Canada with 25 per cent tariffs on all goods shipped to the United States as one of his first acts when he assumes power in January.
WHISTLER—More than 200 Unifor leaders and delegates gathered in Whistler for the 2024 B.C. Regional Council to discuss key issues facing B.C.’s workers and make strategic plans for the future.
B.C. Regional Chairperson Leanne Marsh opened the meeting and introduced the cultural ambassadors from the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre who provided a welcome to unceded Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Lil̓wat7úl territories.
“Recent Developments Concerning the Canada–United States Softwood Lumber Trade Dispute”
Good morning, members of the Standing Committee on International Trade, members of Parliament, and guests. My name is Lana Payne and I am President of Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, with more than 320,000 members across the country, working in every major sector of the Canadian economy.
VANCOUVER—Two of the country’s largest pulp and paper unions, Unifor and the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC), have selected Kruger, Inc. in Kamloops, B.C. as the target to establish pattern bargaining across the forestry sector in Western Canada.
Shortages of ambulances and dangerous wait times are just two consequences of a province-wide staffing crisis in the province’s paramedic services. Despite repeated calls for action, the Ford government has never taken the steps needed to ensure adequate paramedic services for Ontario residents.
Now Ontario New Democrats and four unions that represent thousands of Ontario paramedics are demanding the Ford government act to address longstanding issues in the sector.
To show support for Best Theratronics workers who have endured a Grinch of a boss this year, Operation Christmas Cheer came by the Kanata picket line on Dec. 2, 2024, to help striking workers get through the upcoming holidays.
The Journey Podcast with special guest Manitoba Premier, Wab Kinew The Spotlight: Warehouse Workers Unite! Inspiration and Wisdom from Marshall Ganz Organizing WINS in 2024
TORONTO—Unifor is pleased to hear today’s long-awaited federal government commitment to fund new Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway cars, with the union’s expectation that the investment will result in good jobs at the Alstom plant in Thunder Bay.
“This critical investment is the final piece of the puzzle needed to build much-needed subway cars for Toronto transit riders that can sustain hundreds of manufacturing and spin-off jobs,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
The 239 members of Local 414 have ratified a new three-year agreement with their foodservice employer Dexterra at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus.
“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for fighting for a fair contract for our hospitality members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
Unifor members gathered in Montreal for the 2024 Canada Council meeting to celebrate important organizing, bargaining, and political victories as well as strategize on the best way to defend workers' rights.
CALGARY– Negotiations between Unifor and CPKC have reached an impasse after the company failed to engage meaningfully to make progress on the union’s proposals on critical non-economic issues.
The 2024 Make Amazon Pay days of resistance will take place November 29 to December 3. Led by UNI Global Union, the event is a coordinated protest of Amazon’s anti-worker and anti-democratic business practices.
Unifor's Quebec Council was held in Quebec City from November 22 to 24, 2024. Under the chairmanship of Sophie Albert, President of the Quebec Council, the meeting was a unique forum for discussion and reflection on the future of the union and the issues facing workers.
“We’ve got to step up here as a nation to make sure that we are doing everything to protect Canadian jobs,” says Unifor National President Lana Payne on Trump tariff threats. Watch Lana’s message on trade to Unifor Quebec Regional Council delegates.
On Nov. 25, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford refused to recognize the epidemic of intimate partner violence (IPV) while standing outside a women’s shelter, 150 Unifor women met in Windsor, Ont. to launch the union’s campaign demanding this declaration be made.
SARNIA—INEOS Styrolution's decision to accelerate the closure of its Sarnia facility to the end of December 2025 has prompted Unifor to call on the federal and provincial governments to intervene.
"The expedited closure of the Sarnia plant is a devastating blow to our members and the local community," stated Unifor National President Lana Payne. "We urge the governments and the company to work together to secure a new investor."
HALIFAX—Unifor commits to continue the fight to strengthen workers’ rights in Nova Scotia following the re-election of the Progressive Conservative government with a second majority win.
MONTREAL – Unifor members of Council 4000 and Local 100 at Canadian National Railway (CN Rail) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, with 96% of Local 100 members and 97% of Council 4000 members supporting the mandate, preparing to take action should an agreement not be reached by January 1, 2025.
CN workers vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike action
Dear Members,
Unifor members of Council 4000 and Local 100 at Canadian National Railway (CN Rail) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, with 96% of Local 100 members and 97% of Council 4000 members supporting the mandate, preparing to take action should an agreement not be reached by January 1, 2025.
November 25 starts the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) which includes December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, then ends on December 10. As a union, we have dedicated our activism to end GBV since the devastation of the Montreal Massacre which took the lives of 14 women at Ecole Polytechnique in Quebec, simply because they were women.
In the next year alone, Bell Clerical units from Ontario and Quebec, Bell MTS, and Bell workers across Atlantic Canada will go to the table, representing thousands of Unifor members in the telecommunications sector.
Unifor Local 4276 welcomed nearly forty new members following a successful variance application after union cards were signed by workers at the Willow Stream Spa.
“We welcome these new members to our union and look forward to negotiating the collective agreement they deserve,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
The expansion of the bargaining unit includes spa attendants, experience coordinators, aestheticians, registered massage therapists, body technicians. Each area will now be represented by a lead hand.
In a jam-packed agenda from November 18 to 19, the 14th FFAW-Unifor triennial Constitutional Convention celebrated victories over the past three years and looked at issues on the horizon for the union’s 14,000 members across Newfoundland and Labrador.
With one week left before Nova Scotians complete their votes for provincial representatives, Unifor members are speaking to fellow members to encourage them to cast their ballot and are volunteering with incumbents and candidates who are pushing for programs and policies that will directly benefit workers.
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