Ornge paramedics, members of Unifor Local 2002, won their arbitration over a wage re-opener clause that hinged on Bill 124, Premier Doug Ford’s disastrous anti-worker wage-suppressing legislation.
ST. CLAUDE, MAN.—Unifor members working at Lactalis Dairy have ratified a new collective agreement with wage increases and improved benefits.
“Congratulations to the bargaining committee of Local 755 on their great work,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The new agreement will see improved wages and benefits as we continue to fight hard for workers across bargaining tables everywhere.”
Members at Westrock Guelph packaging company signed a new four-year agreement with 11.25% total wage increases and their first Women’s Advocate and Racial Justice Advocate.
“My congratulations to the members at Westrock Guelph on their new agreement,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Local 1917 has done a great job with this round of bargaining, getting improvements to wages and benefits and negotiating Women's and Racial Justice Advocates. They should be very proud of their work to build a more inclusive workplace.”
Quebec City – Members of Unifor Local 1044, working at Gecko Alliance, were told last week that production will cease by July 2023 as the company has decided to transfer its operations remaining production to its plant in Mexico.
More than 15 people will lose their jobs. This is in addition to the dozens of people laid off since the beginning of the wave of relocation that began a few years ago.
The Government of Canada became the 25th country to ratify the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 190, or C190, which is a framework of global standards aimed at eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work. This is an important milestone in our union’s mission to create workplaces and communities free from violence, harassment, and discrimination.
As Unifor recognizes Black History Month, in 2023, our focus is empowering the next generation of Black youth.
As we reflect on Black history, Black accomplishments and the contributions of the many Black communities here in Canada and globally, we also reaffirm the collective work and collective responsibility we all have to continue to advocate to end Anti-Black racism in all institutions and society. We owe it to future generations.
WINDSOR, ONT. –Postmedia's decision to close the Windsor Star's Starway Printing Plant brings an end to more than a century of daily print newspaper publishing in Windsor and comes at the cost of eliminating roughly 75 media jobs in the city, say unions Unifor and CWA Canada.
Sault Ste. Marie, ON – EllisDon Facilities Services (SAH) Inc. workers represented by Unifor Local 1359 will conduct an information picket outside the Sault Area Hospital on February 1 to demand the company return to the bargaining table instead of going to arbitration.
WINNIPEG—Wage increases and a night shift wage premium are highlights of a new collective agreement ratified by Unifor members working at the Association for Community Living (ACL).
ACL provides housing to people with developmental disabilities, and supports families through advocacy, individual consultation, and training and information. Unifor Local 468 members provide essential support by helping clients with their daily needs, including eating, bathing, doctor appointments, and recreational activities.
Unifor and CWA Canada locals and members in Windsor are protesting Postmedia’s decision to eliminate editorial and inserter positions, and outsource printing of the Windsor Star, cutting the jobs of over 75 people.
CALGARY—Unifor Local 1410 members were successful in winning unionization for the part-time merchandisers in a new four-year collective agreement ratified on Jan. 28, 2023.
“Organizing new members is a key priority for many Unifor locals,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Local 1410 should be very proud of the work they’ve done to secure an excellent agreement and expand the bargaining unit. Congratulations to them and welcome to our new members.”
Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle says Local 892 members at the Mosaic potash mine in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan can count on the power of Canada’s largest union in the private sector if negotiations fail to produce a new collective agreement in the next few weeks.
“It’s simple: cost of living is increasing. Wages and benefits must keep up. If that doesn’t happen, Mosaic’s customers are going to see a disruption in service,” he said.
I write to you at what I know is a time of great fear and uncertainty for Unifor Postmedia members in every corner of the company, from coast to coast. Andrew MacLeod’s January 18th memo detailing a number of cost-cutting measures, followed by the company’s subsequent announcements about significant lay-offs countrywide, are only the latest in a long series of discouraging restructuring moves by the company.
Unifor Local 21-A bargaining committee and Procor Ltd. have reached a tentative collective agreement.
“This was a difficult round of negotiations, but our bargaining committee stood together for our rail sector members,” said Michelle Barsness, Unit Chair and Treasurer of Local 21-A. “This agreement would not have been reached without the skills and solidarity of the bargaining committee.”
TORONTO –Unifor is disappointed and frustrated that Postmedia has largely kept the union and media workers hanging with a slow bleed of information that has provided no real clarity to workers about what jobs are on the chopping block.
“Workers are still in the dark after the company announced restructuring plans over a week ago. To dangle dire news that is detrimental to media workers’ livelihoods, careers and families is disrespectful and hurtful to the workers who have given so much to the company,” said Unifor’s National President Lana Payne.
The Right Honourable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland
House of Commons, Canada
OPEN LETTER RE: Ontario’s Health System at Risk
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Freeland,
As Ontario’s largest health care unions, CUPE, SEIU Healthcare, OPSEU/SEFPO, ONA, and Unifor, we write on behalf of 295,000 workers concerned that Premier Ford’s privatization plan is putting our members and the people they care for at risk.
OTTAWA – As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet gather in Hamilton for a three-day retreat, a broad coalition of unions and progressive groups says that implementing a comprehensive pharmacare program must be a top priority for the Liberal government. The cost-of-living crisis has significantly increased cost-related obstacles to Canadians’ access to prescription drugs, while high drug prices are draining billions of dollars from hospitals’ budgets.
DELTA, B.C.—Workers at the Cascades casino in Delta became Unifor’s newest members after the B.C. Labour Board certified the unit on January 24, 2023.
“Unifor is very proud to welcome a new group of hospitality and gaming workers into our union, joining thousands of Unifor members in the sector. We thank the Cascades workers for choosing Unifor and I know they are eager to get started on having a say in improving their working conditions,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
TORONTO- The Bank of Canada’s decision to impose a quarter-point interest rate hike willfully ignores inflation data, unfairly jeopardizes workers’ jobs and fails to address the root causes of price increases.
Unifor Council 4000 and Local 100 continued contract negotiations with CN the week of January 16-20 in Montreal. This was the first sessions with the assistance of Federal Conciliators.
Unifor filed a Notice of Dispute with Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) on December 16, 2022. The Conciliators were appointed on December 30, meaning the bargaining schedule and conciliation process has changed slightly from what we initially advised in the last RailLine update.
Nikki Moffat
Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Vice President
Corporate Services
BCE and Bell
Dear Ms. Moffat,
In September 2010, Bell Let’s Talk began a new conversation about Canada’s mental health with the public. At the time, many people were not openly discussing living with mental illness.
Millions of Canadians, including leading personalities, engaged in an open discussion about mental illness, offering new ideas and hope for those who struggle, with numbers growing every year.
CROFTON, B.C.—The combined investments of the David Eby government, the federal government and Paper Excellence will help recall more than 100 workers at the pulp and paper mill in Crofton.
TORONTO –Unifor is looking at all options to protect media workers after Postmedia announced restructuring plans today, which includes laying off workers in the media sector.
"We will do everything in our power to protect our members working in the media sector,” said Unifor’s National President Lana Payne. “Journalists and media workers often put their lives on the line to provide fact-based reporting to the public and they deserve respect, not constantly worrying when the next axe in the newsroom will drop.”
HALIFAX- Members of Unifor MWF 1 ratified a new four-and-a-half year collective agreement with Irving Shipbuilding.
“On behalf of the union, I send my thanks and congratulations to the MWF 1 bargaining committee for what they achieved for workers at the Halifax Shipyard,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “In addition to important economic improvements, this agreement will support the growth of the skilled workforce in the shipyard, an anchor for good union employment in the Halifax region.”
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C.-The permanent closure of the pulp line at Canfor’s Prince George mill was preventable, says Unifor.
“Hundreds of families have been forced to deal with job loss due to an entirely preventable mill closure,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Our union, along with many others, has been advocating for better and more sustainable forestry policies for years. It’s clear this government is not moving fast enough to repair the damage done by the B.C. Liberals.”
An elderly man in Fredericton, N.B. died alone in a wheelchair. Another patient died while waiting for care after hours in a hospital emergency waiting room. A 76-year-old man suffered a heart attack waiting in the ER waiting room. An 88-year-old woman, who is blind, is put into a bed in a storage closet.
Then, an ambulance was called to a residence in Greater Moncton which was dispatched from Saint John, 1.5 hours away. The child’s lungs collapsed and had to be rushed to the nearest children’s hospital, the IWK in Halifax, N.S.
The 200 Unifor members at Post Foods in Niagara Falls, Ont. voted 84% in favour of a new three-year agreement on Jan. 14, 2023.
Key victories include a 12% wage increase over three years, with 6% in the first year, and 3% in the second and third year. Members have improved working conditions and work practices, including addressing unscheduled overtime procedure and new language where the company must fist contact the union prior to contracting out work.
Accessibility
Documents can be requested in alternative/accessible formats by emailing communications@unifor.org
