REGINA—If Saskatchewan’s families were looking for leadership in the latest provincial budget, they will be sorely disappointed, says Unifor.
“The Scott Moe government seems content to coast along while families are struggling,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Unifor has been calling for the provincial government to help the province’s most vulnerable with a boost to the minimum wage and employer-paid sick leave but those calls were unanswered in today’s budget.
VANCOUVER—The B.C. government needs to stand up to a handful of business lobbyists and implement paid vaccination leave and paid sick leave, said Unifor.
“As it stands, workers are paying to take time off work to be vaccinated,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “Workers don’t need the bare minimum to defeat COVID-19, they need every possible opportunity to be vaccinated without financial penalty.”
TORONTO- Unifor supports the proposed combination of Canadian Pacific (CP) with Kansas City Southern (KCS).
“This new North American single-line will drive growth not only in Canada, but across the continent,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “This powerful combination will be good for Unifor members in rail, and allows CP and KCS to fully utilize the USMCA to serve customers in all three countries.”
Unifor represents 1,400 workers at CP in Canada, and 9,200 rail workers across the country.
TORONTO—Unifor is calling on all provinces to mandate paid time off to allow workers to get vaccinated when it is their turn to do so.
“While some good employers out there are already doing this, most are not and won’t unless government forces them to just do the right thing,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
The refrain “if you’re sick, stay home” is not just smart workplace policy, it’s also smart public health policy.
Of course, COVID-19 has elevated the importance of this approach to new levels. Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces is a matter of life and death.
This month the premier acknowledged the link between provincial workplace policies and public health by legislating paid time off for workers to get the vaccine.
It’s time to take the next step and legislate employer-paid sick leave for all Saskatchewan’s workers.
GODERICH—Members of Unifor Local 16-O working at Compass Minerals have ratified a new collective agreement that secures many of the outstanding issues from the 2018 strike.
“Skilled bargaining combined with collective strike action in 2018 made this contract possible,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Bargaining broke down on Tuesday, March 30th between your bargaining committee and Bell.
Despite the assistance of a federal conciliation officer, the company would not move on the priorities of members. Your union remains committed to reaching a fair collective agreement.
It is clear that progress will not be made until pressure on the employer increases.
Your union will now focus on the immediate need to resolve the essential services issue in front of the Canadian Industrial Relations Board.
In an international webinar hosted by the North American Solidarity Project, front-line workers from Canada, the U.S., and Mexico shared experiences from the last year and discussed using what they've learned to improve working conditions for all workers.
Unifor recognizes and invites all members to celebrate the International Transgender Day of Visibility tomorrow, March 31. This annual day celebrates the value and resilience of transgender people both within the union and around the world.
Trans people are those who identify with a gender other than the one assigned at birth, and exist within all countries, communities and religious groups around the world. This identity is separate from an individual’s sexual orientation.
The Honourable Mona Fortier Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Financ
Thank you for the recent opportunity to discuss the urgent need for an intersectional feminist recovery program. The budget is a key element in making this a reality.
VANCOUVER—As British Columbia gears up to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to the general public, Unifor is urging the provincial government to follow Saskatchewan’s lead and give workers paid time off to receive the vaccine.
ST. JOHN’S —The election of Premier Andrew Furey with a majority government provides the opportunity for the Liberal government to reset its priorities to improve the lives of workers and their families.
“We’ve lost precious time during a period of crisis in election campaign mode, now it’s time for Premier Furey to roll up his sleeves and work to deliver policies that will make a difference,” said Unifor Atlantic Regional Director Linda MacNeil.
Your Bargaining Committee began conciliation with the company this week via Zoom. We reiterated that our priorities must be addressed if we are to reach an agreement and avoid a work stoppage. Conciliation will continue next week and we will put out the next bulletin, when there has been a tangible change in the bargaining process for us to report.
TORONTO—After the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the federal carbon tax is constitutional, Unifor is calling on the conservative provincial governments that have resisted climate action to get to work.
“You can criticize the federal carbon tax all you want, but complaining is not a plan,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Climate change is real and urgent action is the only moral course of action. If you’re a premier who doesn’t think the federal plan suits your jurisdiction, then you must act immediately to raise the bar.”
PICKERING- SEIU Healthcare, CUPE and Unifor will protest healthcare failures in the Ontario budget, including the lack of sufficient measures to reverse the staff exodus from low-paying precarious jobs, the omission of paid sick days, and refusal to make the temporary wage increase permanent for all healthcare workers, at Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy’s constituency office. This action will observe COVID-19 safety protocols. What: Ontario budget healthcare funding protest When: Thursday, March 25, 2021 11 a.m.
TORONTO – Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy’s 2021 provincial budget fails to address Ontario’s crisis in long-term care, and leaves questions about the direction and strength of the province’s economic recovery says Unifor.
Ahead of tomorrow’s budget in Ontario, hospital, and long-term care workers, who have borne the worst of pandemic risks in the last year, surrounded Queen’s Park in a drive-by action with a clear message for Premier Doug Ford and his finance minister: Respect Us. Protect Us. Pay Us.
The Together for Racial Justice webinar was held March 20 as part of the North American Solidarity Project, which Unifor is participating in along with several other unions across North America.
VANCOUVER—Unifor took its campaign for workers’ rights directly to provincial government legislators during an intensive online lobby session this week in British Columbia.
“Speaking directly with key decision-makers is a key part of our strategy for change,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “MLAs heard from Unifor members in dozens of sectors speaking directly about their experience on the shop floor. We also presented research to help make the case for a suite of new worker-friendly policies.”
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